Veteran actor Timothy Busfield is being digitally excised from an upcoming romantic comedy after his arrest on charges of child sexual abuse. The 68-year-old star, best known for his role in The West Wing, surrendered to authorities in Albuquerque on 13 January 2026.
Allegations and Immediate Fallout
Busfield faces two counts of criminal sexual contact and child abuse connected to alleged incidents that reportedly took place while he was working on the set of the Fox series The Cleaning Lady. According to an arrest warrant, one of the two young boys accusing him alleged the inappropriate touching began when he was just seven years old.
In swift reaction to the news, the production of the film You Deserve Each Other has decided to cut Busfield's scenes. The movie, which stars Penn Badgley and Meghann Fahy, is based on Sarah Hogle's bestselling novel. Busfield had already completed filming his role as Bernie, the father of Fahy's character Naomi, but all his footage will now be discarded. No release date for the project has been announced.
This follows a similar move by NBC, which last week pulled an episode of Law & Order: SVU that featured Busfield in a guest-starring role as a judge.
New Allegations and Legal Battle
The legal situation for the actor intensified shortly after his initial court appearance on 14 January, where he did not enter a plea. Prosecutors from the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office, Sam Bergman and Savannah Brandenburg-Koch, filed a motion to detain Busfield pending trial.
They cited a new allegation that emerged on the day of his surrender. The father of a then-16-year-old girl came forward, claiming his daughter had accused Busfield of kissing her and putting his hands down her pants during an audition at the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, which the actor founded.
Busfield's legal team, led by attorney Larry Stein, has vehemently opposed the detention motion. In documents filed on 16 January, they argued his voluntary surrender demonstrated a lack of dangerousness and called the state's evidence lacking. Stein has stated Busfield denies all allegations and maintains they are completely false, suggesting the initial accusations are revenge from a mother whose sons were not cast in the final season of The Cleaning Lady. Stein also noted Busfield passed an independent polygraph examination.
Career in Jeopardy and Potential Consequences
Busfield, whose career includes iconic roles in Field of Dreams and work as a director and executive producer, faces severe professional and personal repercussions. The Fox series The Cleaning Lady, where he worked during the time of the alleged on-set incidents, was cancelled last year.
If convicted on the charges, the actor could be sentenced to years in prison. The case continues to develop as the court decides on his pre-trial detention and the evidence is examined further.
