Melissa Gilbert has insisted she is “neither naive nor complicit” in standing by her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, who faces child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico. In her first interview since the charges were filed in February, the former Little House on the Prairie star told Good Morning America that she believes Busfield’s account of events is “the truth”.
Gilbert, 61, who married Busfield in 2013, said she had discussed past allegations of sexual misconduct with him before their relationship began. “I know this man in my bones,” she said. “No one knows him better than I do.” She expressed confidence that he will be “exonerated” but acknowledged she is preparing for all possible outcomes of the case.
Busfield, 68, is accused of inappropriately touching a seven-year-old boy and later an eight-year-old boy on the set of the TV drama The Cleaning Lady between November 2022 and spring 2024. The boy’s twin brother also reported being touched inappropriately. Busfield has pleaded not guilty and dismissed the allegations as “all lies” in a video shared with TMZ.
The Emmy-winning actor, known for roles in Thirtysomething, The West Wing and Field of Dreams, also faces earlier allegations. In one case, he was accused of groping a 16-year-old girl during an audition at Sacramento’s B Street Theatre, which he co-founded. That matter ended with Busfield attending therapy and the family agreeing not to report him. In 1994, a 17-year-old extra on Little Big League claimed he assaulted her after serving her alcohol; Busfield settled the allegations privately, asserting he was being extorted, and was ordered to pay $150,000 in costs.
Gilbert said she expects Busfield to share “the truth of these past allegations when he needs to”, but added that now is not the time. Busfield is tentatively scheduled to go to trial in May 2027 and has been allowed to await proceedings out of custody.
