Melissa Gilbert Defends Husband Timothy Busfield Amid New Charges

The 'Little House on the Prairie' star says she trusts Busfield 'with my children's lives' despite past allegations.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:30pm

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An abstract close-up image featuring shattered glass and crumpled velvet fabric, capturing the fragility and darkness underlying the glamour of celebrity culture.The tarnished veneer of Hollywood's elite exposes the hidden trauma and abuse that can lurk beneath the surface of fame and fortune.Los Angeles Today

Actress Melissa Gilbert has defended her husband, actor Timothy Busfield, amid new criminal charges against him involving the alleged sexual abuse of 11-year-old twin boys on a TV show set. Gilbert says she was aware of past allegations against Busfield when they married in 2013, and that she trusts him 'with my children's lives.' Busfield is now charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13 in New Mexico.

Why it matters

The case raises questions about how Hollywood handles allegations of sexual misconduct, especially when high-profile actors are involved. Gilbert's staunch defense of her husband despite his history of past allegations also highlights the complexities of intimate partner relationships and the challenges of addressing abuse claims.

The details

Court records cite two previous allegations against Busfield: a 1990s civil suit by a 17-year-old extra on the film 'Little Big League,' which was settled after Busfield denied the allegations and countersued for extortion, and a 2012 allegation by a 28-year-old woman who accused him of groping her in a Los Angeles movie theater. Prosecutors declined to file charges in that case. Busfield is now charged in New Mexico with four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor under 13, involving 11-year-old twin boys on the set of the TV show 'The Cleaning Lady' on Fox.

  • In the 1990s, Busfield was sued in a civil case by a 17-year-old extra on the film 'Little Big League.'

The players

Melissa Gilbert

A 61-year-old actress best known for her role as Laura Ingalls on the TV series 'Little House on the Prairie.' She has been married to Timothy Busfield since 2013.

Timothy Busfield

A 68-year-old actor who has appeared in numerous TV shows and films, including 'Little Big League' and 'The West Wing.' He is currently facing criminal charges for the alleged sexual abuse of 11-year-old twin boys on the set of the TV show 'The Cleaning Lady.'

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What they’re saying

“I know this man in my bones. No one knows him better than I do. I know literally everything about him. ... I trust him with my children's lives, I trust him with my grandchildren's lives, my nieces and nephews. He is an honorable, caring, generous human being.”

— Melissa Gilbert, Actress

“I didn't go into my relationship blind. I'm neither naive nor am I complicit. I talked to him about it. I asked him questions about it. I heard his side of the story—which nobody has ever heard—which is the truth. And when the time is right, and that is not now, Tim will tell the truth of all of these past allegations when he needs to.”

— Melissa Gilbert, Actress

What’s next

Gilbert says Busfield will share his side of the story 'when the time is right,' though it's unclear when that will be. The criminal case in New Mexico is ongoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities of addressing allegations of sexual misconduct, especially when involving high-profile figures in Hollywood. Gilbert's staunch defense of her husband despite his history of past claims raises questions about how intimate partner relationships can shape perceptions of abuse.