‘West Wing’ actor Timothy Busfield accused of child sex abuse in New Mexico

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Police in New Mexico have charged actor Timothy Busfield, famous for his roles in “The West Wing” and “Thirtysomething,” with sexually abusing a child.

On Friday, a judge ordered the arrest of the 68-year-old actor, alleging two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and one count of child abuse. According to a court document reviewed by The Times, the allegations involve inappropriate touching of two young brothers while the actor was working on the Fox television show, “The Cleaning Lady.”

We reached out to Busfield’s lawyer for a statement on Sunday, but they haven’t responded yet. Police in Albuquerque also haven’t confirmed if Busfield is currently in their custody.

Tim Busfield, who worked as an actor, producer, and director on “The Cleaning Lady,” is accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a young actor. According to a sworn statement, the actor claims Busfield first touched him in a private area multiple times on set when he was seven years old. The abuse continued when the actor was eight, with Busfield allegedly touching him inappropriately again on several occasions. The actor stated he was afraid to report Busfield’s behavior because Busfield was the director and he feared retaliation.

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According to the legal complaint, a second young actor stated that Busfield inappropriately touched them during the first two years of working on “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque. The investigator noted that both children reportedly remained silent about these alleged incidents, fearing repercussions or worrying about Busfield.

According to the legal complaint, the actors’ mother reported possible sexual abuse by Busfield to Child Protective Services in October 2025. She stated the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024. Police started their investigation in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital asked them to look into it.

The investigation involved speaking with the children’s therapists and doctors. One young actor told his therapist about the alleged abuse by Busfield and has been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. He also experiences bed-wetting, other behavioral problems, and nightmares about the director touching him, as stated in the complaint.

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The investigator interviewed many people who worked on “The Cleaning Lady,” the show that ended in June after four seasons. The court document describes these conversations, including those with production assistants, the on-set teacher, and Busfield.

According to a complaint, Kelly Busfield, who is married to Melissa Gilbert, was informed by Warner Bros. Television in spring 2025 that they were investigating complaints “about him from the boys” who were child actors on “Cleaning Lady.” When asked if he had any physical contact with the children, Busfield stated it was “highly likely.” He also suggested to the investigator that the boys’ mother may have been seeking “revenge” because he hadn’t brought her children back for the show’s final season.

During his interview, Busfield identified the young actors to the investigator. However, he later claimed he didn’t remember them, stating, “I don’t remember those boys.” He also said he didn’t specifically recall tickling them, but added that it wasn’t unusual for him to do so.

The lawsuit also describes Warner Bros.’ inquiry into claims about Busfield’s conduct. The studio began investigating after receiving an anonymous report in February 2025 through the SAG-AFTRA hotline about an incident that occurred in December 2024. According to the report, Busfield allegedly went into the hair and makeup trailer and kissed a young boy on the face while the boy was getting a haircut. The complaint also claims there are photos of Busfield “tickling and caressing the heads and bodies of young boys.”

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Fox and Warner Bros. didn’t respond to requests for comment on Sunday. However, a Warner Bros. spokesperson told the New York Times they are aware of the charges against Mr. Busfield and are cooperating with law enforcement, and will continue to do so.

Peter Busfield gained recognition for his role as Elliot Weston on the 1980s and early 90s TV drama “Thirtysomething.” He also acted in films like “Field of Dreams” and “Little Big League.” However, many viewers remember him most for playing Danny Concannon on “The West Wing.” His character was a White House reporter who developed a connection with C.J. Cregg, portrayed by Allison Janney.

Beyond his work in TV and movies, Busfield is also a performer and director in the theater. He co-founded the B Street Theatre in Sacramento with his brother Buck in 1991; it started as a traveling theater group for kids and later became a nonprofit venue. A former baseball player, Busfield pitched for the Sacramento Smokeys and will be honored with induction into the Sacramento Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024.

Before the recent accusations related to “The Cleaning Lady,” Oliver Busfield faced a similar allegation in 1994. A 17-year-old actress from “Little Big League” accused him of sexual assault, which he denied and countered with a defamation lawsuit. The case was eventually settled out of court, and a judge ordered Busfield to pay the woman $150,000.

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2026-01-11 23:31