Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield is facing serious allegations of child sexual abuse, with an arrest warrant now issued for the veteran Hollywood figure. The 68-year-old star, known for his roles in movies like Field of Dreams and popular TV shows such as The West Wing and Thirtysomething, is under investigation for criminal offenses.
The police investigation began in November 2024 following a report from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital regarding alleged sexual abuse. The victims’ parents informed Officer Marvin Kirk Brown, who issued the warrant, that their children, who were child actors, had interacted with Busfield on the set of the FOX series The Cleaning Lady, where he worked as a director.
According to reports, officers interviewed two sets of parents whose children had acted on The Cleaning Lady, where Busfield was the director. Court documents filed by Albuquerque police in January 2025 claim that the producer allegedly asked the siblings to call him “Uncle Tim” and engaged in inappropriate tickling of their stomach and legs.
Allegations suggest that the children displayed signs of grooming, with one child reporting that the abuse started when they were only seven years old. Busfield is accused of making inappropriate contact with the child on multiple occasions. The parents stated in the warrant that the director grew closer to the boys during the show’s production.
In a troubling revelation, one of the minors disclosed to a therapist in 2025 that Busfield touched their genitalia and bottom while they were in a bedroom on the TV set, according to an affidavit obtained by KTLA. Despite admitting to engaging in “playful” contact with the children on set, Busfield denies any wrongdoing. He now faces charges of sexual contact with a minor and child abuse.
It is unclear whether Busfield has been formally booked at this time. The arrest warrant reveals previous sexual assault allegations against him dating back to 1994. With over 700 credits in acting, producing, and directing in television and film, Busfield won an Emmy Award for his role in Thirtysomething in 1991.
Busfield is most notably recognized for his performance in The West Wing and has appeared in various films, including Stripes, Sneakers, and Quiz Show. He married Melissa Gilbert in 2013, and they do not have children together.