Former child actors accuse Goddard of sexual misconduct

Los Angeles, Dec 21 (IANS) More former child actors have come forward accusing Hollywood producer Gary Goddard of sexual misconduct.

Following "ER" actor Anthony Edwards' allegation that Goddard sexually assaulted him when he was 12, seven others from his Santa Barbara theater group are accusing Goddard of molesting or attempting to molest them in the 1970s, reports variety.com.

Actors Linus Huffman, Bret Nighman and Mark Driscoll are among those who have claimed that Goddard sexually abused them.

Nighman said Goddard had attempted to molest him four times by the time he was 16.

Barbara Costa, who looked after the cast during the touring production of California Youth Theatre's "Peter Pan", said she was suspicious of Goddard, who slept among the boys during the overnight trips.

Following a get-together in 1990, when the six friends from the Santa Barbara theater group discovered that they had all been abused by Goddard, Driscoll said they drove to their former mentor's house and confronted him. Goddard apologized.

Goddard had denied the allegations in the past. He also took leave from his own company in November in the wake of the claims.

The producer was accused in 2014 of sexually abusing actor Michael Egan III when he was 16. The suit was later dismissed.