Hollywood is in shock after explosive charges against Emmy-winning actor and director Timothy Busfield — the longtime star of The West Wing and Thirtysomething is now at the center of a disturbing child sex abuse case out of New Mexico, with an active warrant out for his arrest.
According to a criminal complaint filed Friday in New Mexico and obtained by TMZ, Busfield is charged with child abuse and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13. Prosecutors say the alleged victims were young boys working as child actors on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady.
One boy told investigators Busfield allegedly touched him in his “private areas” after a scene wrapped when he was just 7 years old. Prosecutors say the child claimed the inappropriate touching happened five or six times between takes, and that it continued when he was 8, with multiple incidents reported.
A second child actor also came forward, telling investigators that Busfield allegedly touched him inappropriately on the same production, according to the complaint. Authorities have not yet released full details of his account, but say both boys’ statements helped build the case.
Albuquerque police say they opened an investigation into Busfield back in November 2024 after reports of possible abuse on set. After months of work, an arrest warrant was issued Friday. Cops say they are actively looking for the 68-year-old actor and hope he will surrender.
The charges mark a stunning fall from grace for Busfield, who won a Primetime Emmy in 1991 for Thirtysomething and later became a household name as Danny Concannon on The West Wing. His résumé also includes fan favorites like Field of Dreams and Revenge of the Nerds, plus years of directing TV behind the scenes.
The case is already reigniting questions about how safe child actors really are on set, especially in those in-between moments when cameras aren’t rolling and attention is scattered. If the allegations are proven, it would be yet another grim reminder that fame and familiarity don’t equal safety for kids in the industry.
Busfield, like any defendant, is presumed innocent until proven guilty. TMZ reports his camp has not responded to requests for comment, and no public statement has been released as the legal and media firestorm around him continues to grow.
Cut off the perverts biden!