James Marsden, Taran Killam wrote support letters for Brian Peck amid Drake Bell abuse case

Several prominent Hollywood actors wrote letters of support for Brian Peck, the Nickelodeon dialogue coach convicted of child sexual abuse in 2004, a new documentary reveals.

In the Investigation Discovery documentary series "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," former "Drake & Josh" star Drake Bell accuses Peck of sexually assaulting him when he was 15, for the first time identifying himself as the victim at the center of the case. Peck was arrested in 2003 and the following year pleaded no contest to two child sexual abuse charges.

But the documentary's fourth episode discusses Bell's surprise that Peck still received support in Hollywood after he was convicted. It reveals that before Peck was sentenced in 2004, several famous actors wrote letters of support for him, including James Marsden, 50, and Taran Killam, 41.

The 41 letters of support, intended for the judge to take into consideration when determining Peck's sentence, were previously sealed.

Marsden told the judge that he had known Peck since he was a teenager and wrote, "I assure you, what Brian has been through in the last year is the suffering of a hundred men," according to the documentary.

Drake Bell alleges 'extensive' and 'brutal' sexual abuse by Nickelodeon dialogue coach Brian Peck

Killam, meanwhile, wrote, "I've seen the effects this situation has had on Brian, and I know for a fact that he regrets any mistakes made," while Alan Thicke offered his "sincere and heartfelt vote of confidence in Brian's future," the documentary shows. Actor Ron Melendez, 51, also reportedly wrote that Peck "is a good man."

When Peck was sentenced in 2004, Marsden was 31, while Killam was 22, Thicke was 57 and Melendez was 31.

USA TODAY reached out to representatives for Marsden, Killam and Melendez for comment. Thicke died in 2016.

"We don't know exactly what these people were told about Brian's crimes before they wrote the letters, and we don't know which of these people, if any, were in the courtroom for Brian's sentencing," Business Insider reporter Kate Taylor notes in the documentary. "But these letters show how strong the support for Brian Peck was with people with industry connections."

"Boy Meets World" stars Will Friedle and Rider Strong also wrote letters of support for Peck. They have previously expressed regret for doing so.

"He didn't say that nothing had happened," Strong said on the "Pod Meets World" podcast. "So, by the time we heard about this case and knew anything about it, it was always in the context of, 'I did this thing, I am guilty. I am going to take whatever punishment the government determines, but I'm a victim of jailbait. There was this hot guy. I just did this thing, and he’s underage.' And we bought that storyline."

Friedle also called his past support for Peck his "ever-loving shame."

"Growing Pains" actress Joanna Kerns, 71, said in a statement included in the documentary that her own letter of support for Peck was "based on complete misinformation," and "knowing what I know now, I never would have written" it.

Peck was ultimately sentenced to 16 months in jail and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Will Friedle, Rider Strong allege grooming by 'Boy Meets World' guest star Brian Peck

Drake Bell was 'shocked' Brian Peck had so many supporters during sentencing

In "Quiet on Set," Bell alleges that Peck, a dialogue coach on "The Amanda Show," subjected him to "extensive" and "brutal" sexual abuse. He also describes being "shocked" when he went to court for Peck's sentencing and found his "entire side of the courtroom was full" with supporters, noting there were "definitely some recognizable faces."

During the sentencing, Bell said he declined to address Peck but instead made a statement to those supporting him.

"I looked at all of them and I just said, 'How dare you?'" Bell recalled. "I said, 'You will forever have the memory of sitting in this courtroom and defending this person, and I will forever have the memory of the person you're defending violating me and doing unspeakable acts and crimes, and that's what I'll remember.'"

In a previous statement to USA TODAY, Nickelodeon said, "Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward."

The documentary's revelations come after Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis faced backlash last year after it was revealed that they wrote character letters in support of Danny Masterson, their former "That '70s Show" co-star who was convicted of raping two women. Kutcher said the letters were "intended for the judge to read, and not to undermine the testimony of the victims, or to retraumatize them in any way."

Story continues below video.

How to watch Nickelodeon documentary 'Quiet on Set'

"Quiet on Set" will air on ID across two nights, March 17 and March 18, starting at 9 p.m. ET.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, Edward Segarra

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Marsden, more supported Brian Peck amid Drake Bell abuse case