Little House On The Prairie star Melissa Gilbert’s agonizing past revealed – as she vows to ‘stand by’ husband Timothy Busfield amid child sex abuse charges

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Melissa Gilbert seemed destined for a successful future after becoming a popular child actor on a hit American television show.

When Gilbert was only ten, she won the role of the energetic and playful Laura Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, standing out from many other young actors who auditioned.

She later recalled that many people were surprised to discover she wasn’t like the character she played, explaining that even well into her 40s, people often expected her to act like a young girl – like the 12-year-old with a fishing pole and a gingham dress she portrayed.

Despite being known for sweet and heartwarming movies, Gilbert’s personal life was actually filled with hardship and tragedy.

I’m absolutely reeling! It’s just… unbelievable. Last week, the news broke that Timothy Busfield, Susan Gilbert’s husband, was facing these awful accusations – child sex offences, can you believe it? It instantly triggered a huge federal manhunt, and it was just so stressful waiting for news. Thankfully, he turned himself in on Monday, but honestly, it’s just a nightmare. I’m so worried about Susan, even though I barely know her – it’s just devastating to hear something like this about someone connected to a person I admire so much.

Gilbert has vowed to ‘stand by and support’ her husband, who has staunchly denied the allegations. 

It is the latest blow to the former child star, who had to overcome adversity from a young age. 

Gilbert had often talked about a difficult childhood, mentioning feelings of sadness and unease at home. Her parents, actor and comedian Paul Gilbert and actress Barbara Crane, divorced when she was six years old.

She was adopted as a baby and never knew her birth parents.

Because her adoptive parents were performers, they were able to help Melissa Gilbert start her career. She began by appearing in TV commercials as a child, which eventually led to her famous role on The Little House on the Prairie.

Soon after getting the part, Gilbert was deeply saddened by her father’s unexpected death in February 1976.

She, like many others back then, was told her adopted brother, Jonathan Gilbert, had passed away peacefully in his sleep from a stroke.

It was later revealed that he had taken his own life, but this wasn’t discovered until she hired a private investigator when she was 45 years old.

Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon, who played her father Charles Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie, formed a strong connection. She later said he was a hugely important figure in her life.

Gilbert experienced another heartbreaking loss in 1991 when Landon died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 54, losing a second important father figure in her life.

She described the actor’s death as deeply painful and devastating, leaving a huge void in her life. She also struggled with her mental health as she grieved.

Oh my gosh, reading her memoir just destroyed me. She described feeling absolutely shattered, and it was like she was trapped! Everyone – everyone – was desperate to hear from her, wanting a piece of what she was going through, but she just… couldn’t find the words. It was like she was completely frozen, unable to even speak. It was so heartbreaking to read, honestly. I felt her pain so deeply!

I stayed in bed with the curtains closed, feeling incredibly sluggish. Every movement felt like wading through thick mud, and I wandered around in my pajamas for days, feeling completely out of it.

While she was growing up, Gilbert mixed with the popular group known as the Brat Pack and had an on-again, off-again relationship with Rob Lowe from 1981 to 1987. Both of them later acknowledged that they were unfaithful during their time together.

The couple became engaged, but their relationship ended when Gilbert became pregnant. It was reported that Rob wasn’t prepared to be a father.

Going through a breakup is never easy, but shortly after Rob and I separated, I experienced another devastating loss – a miscarriage. It was a truly heartbreaking time, and as I wrote in my memoir, losing both my baby and the relationship felt absolutely awful. It really did hurt like hell.

Her friends introduced her to Bo Brinkman, who is related to the famous actor Dennis Quaid, and they quickly fell in love, getting engaged after just six weeks.

They tied the knot in February 1988 and welcomed son Dakota, the following year.

Their marriage had a difficult beginning. As Gilbert explained, it was marked by heavy drinking, feelings of inadequacy, and the challenges of two strangers attempting to build a life and career together.

The couple almost separated when Brinkman cheated on Gilbert shortly after their son was born. Gilbert has said she discovered his infidelity when she found him with a prostitute in their living room while getting a bottle ready for their son, Dakota.

She wanted her son to have a father figure, something she lacked growing up, but admitted it would take a long time to heal from his actions.

Ultimately their marriage collapsed and they divorced in 1992.

Three years after her first wedding, she married actor Bruce Boxleitner and together they had a son named Michael.

It’s been said that he was named after her Little House on the Prairie co-star Landon.

Their 16-year marriage ended in 2011 because Gilbert was unhappy with how he acted after she suffered a broken back.

She injured her neck in the nineties, which led to a herniated disk and ongoing pain. Eventually, she had surgery to fuse the bones in her neck to help with the problem.

In 2009, she experienced another herniated disc. While receiving treatment, she fell and broke her back.

‘Postsurgical care and compassion was not Bruce’s specialty,’ Gilbert penned. 

I knew I could manage on my own, but a sudden thought struck me: why would I want to? Why was it acceptable in my mind to not receive care and support? What led me to believe I didn’t deserve kindness in my life?

Okay, so after the divorce, she just completely changed! She said herself she ‘lost her mind,’ and honestly, I get it! She started getting Botox and fillers – seriously, she looked amazing! – and then she bought this gorgeous Mustang! But the best part? She started dating someone much younger. It was a total transformation, and I was obsessed with every single detail. It was like, a whole new Renée!

She struggled with alcoholism, and at its worst, she would drink two bottles of wine each night.

Gilbert realized she had a problem with alcohol when she fainted one evening while a friend was visiting, and woke up to find herself in the dog’s bed.

The incident prompted her to go to therapy and attend AA meetings.

Despite facing personal challenges, Gilbert continued her acting career, appearing in shows like Switched at Birth, Secrets and Lies, and When We Last Spoke in 2019.

She also voiced Batgirl in Batman: The Animated Series throughout the 1990s.

From 2008 to 2009, she starred as Caroline ‘Ma’ Ingalls in the stage musical version of Little House on the Prairie.

She also participated on Dancing With The Stars in 2022, during which she fell and hit her head. 

Gilbert hit his head and got a concussion while competing, but he bravely finished the event, earning fifth place.

She ran for Congress in Michigan’s 8th district in 2016, but had to withdraw due to health problems.

She faced criticism when it was revealed she owed $360,000 in unpaid federal taxes and $112,000 in California state taxes. Reports indicate she has now arranged a payment plan with the IRS to address these debts.

Gilbert left her Hollywood life behind and moved to the mountains in 2022 with her husband, Busfield, who she met in a bar back in 2012.

I was so thrilled when I heard they bought a beautiful 14-acre property in the Catskill Mountains for $98,000! It’s just a short 20-minute drive from Woodstock, and they’re really looking forward to a slower, more peaceful way of life up there. It sounds like a dream come true for them.

After having several cosmetic surgeries over the years, Gilbert decided to move to the mountains of New York to feel more comfortable and confident with who she is.

I’m embracing my natural self now – no dyes, artificial enhancements, or injections. I focus on self-care, eating healthy, and staying hydrated, and that’s allowing me to enjoy getting older, she explained.

Growing older feels like a constant struggle, and ultimately, it’s something everyone faces. It doesn’t align with my current self or lifestyle, and frankly, it’s draining and feels pointless.

I needed to discover a sense of self where I could stop striving to meet others’ expectations and simply be true to who I am.

She recently shared with People magazine that she realized she needed a change. She said she had a moment where she thought, “I need to do something different – I don’t like how I look right now!”

Oh, her place? It’s absolutely magical! She calls it ‘The Cabbage,’ which is just her, you know? She’s completely self-sufficient – chickens, a huge garden, everything! And it’s where the inspiration for her second book, Back to the Prairie: A Home Remade, A Life Rediscovered, came from. She wrote it during the pandemic, and honestly, being at ‘The Cabbage’ is like stepping into the book itself. It’s just… perfect.

‘Our lives are simple now, and there’s a sweetness to that simplicity,’ she said of the move. 

‘And with that simplicity comes a real love for stillness and living my life in a peaceful place.

After we moved here and started planning what we wanted to do with the property, the lockdown actually sparked a lot of creativity and passion within me. It felt like a part of me had been waiting for this opportunity to build a new life.

‘I still can’t believe this is what my life is like now. It’s heaven. I’m just so blessed.’

In April 2025, Gilbert and Busfield celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. Gilbert shared on social media that she considered their marriage to be ‘perfect’.

She last shared a picture with Busfield on social media in December. 

Gilbert later deleted her Instagram account after Busfield was accused of child sex offences.

Busfield is facing allegations of sexually inappropriate contact with two young boys in 2022 while directing an episode of the TV show, The Cleaning Lady.

Last week, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Busfield on charges of child abuse and sexual contact with a minor.

This week, Gilbert leapt to her husband’s defense, saying she ‘stands with and supports him’. 

Melissa Gilbert is not currently giving interviews or making public comments, according to her spokesperson.

Don’t believe anything you see online claiming to be from her, including any videos or statements created using AI. These are not her words.

She’s respecting the wishes of Tim’s legal team and staying quiet while his case is ongoing. Right now, she’s concentrating on taking care of their large family and helping them through this difficult time.

I’m a strong supporter of Melissa, and I know she’s standing by her husband through everything. She’ll speak to everyone when she’s ready, and right now, I think it’s so important that we all give them the space and privacy they need.

According to a statement given to The Daily Mail, Stanton ‘Larry’ Stein, the lawyer representing Busfield in this civil case, stated that his client is innocent.

Tim turned himself in to New Mexico authorities this morning after traveling from out of state to address what Stein called false and upsetting claims. Stein stated that Tim maintains his innocence and is committed to proving it.

According to the criminal complaint, the mother of a former cast member promised to retaliate against Timothy Busfield after her son was fired from the show. It seems she then deliberately tried to build a case against him, motivated by personal resentment rather than actual evidence, even though previous investigations found no wrongdoing.

Christina McGovern, the independent investigator hired by WB to look into the claims of misconduct on set, has released a statement: “I carried out a full and independent investigation of all allegations the Studio was aware of at the time.”

Warner Bros. allowed me to conduct a thorough investigation without restrictions. After reviewing all the claims and gathering evidence – including statements from multiple witnesses – I found no proof that Mr. Busfield acted inappropriately or was ever left alone with the child actors on set.

The accusations against Tim are entirely untrue, and we intend to vigorously defend him until the truth comes out.

As a voice for truth and well-being, I want to address some recent claims directly. I’m stating clearly and unequivocally that the accusations made against me regarding harm to any children are false. I had no involvement whatsoever and am committed to setting the record straight.

‘I was ordered to come to Albuquerque, and well, I’m here now. 

I found out on Friday night that I needed a lawyer, so on Saturday I quickly got a car and drove 2,000 miles to Albuquerque.

Busfield described the allegations as ‘horrible lies’ and vowed to fight the charges.

Honestly, everything they’re saying is just false, and I truly haven’t done anything wrong. I’m fully prepared to fight these accusations with an amazing legal team, and I’m confident I’ll be completely cleared. I just know it, because the whole situation feels completely unfair and is based on nothing but lies.

According to documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Busfield is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Bernalillo County. He is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Wednesday at 1:30 PM from the county jail.

As a lifestyle expert focused on child safety, I want to share some concerning information. Back in November 2024, the University of New Mexico Hospital staff reached out to police with a serious report. They were worried about potential grooming of young children – specifically, seven-year-olds – happening on a film or studio set. This led to an investigation and, ultimately, a warrant for Busfield’s arrest.

According to reports, Busfield asked the children to refer to him as ‘Uncle Tim.’ The official complaint also states that he would tickle their stomachs and legs, even though they didn’t enjoy it.

Initially, the children didn’t report any sexual abuse. However, in October 2025, one parent contacted Child Protective Services after their child told them about alleged sexual abuse by Busfield, according to the warrant.

According to a legal document first reported by KTLA, the child told a therapist that Busfield inappropriately touched him in a bedroom while they were on the set of the TV show.

The affidavit states that Busfield admitted to having playful interactions with the children on set, but insisted he did nothing wrong.

According to a criminal complaint filed in New Mexico last week, Busfield reportedly became close to the boys while they were filming his TV show.

I was shocked to learn from the arrest warrant that when police questioned Busfield on November 3, 2025, his wife, Melissa Gilbert – you know, from Little House on the Prairie – was actually listening to the whole conversation! Apparently, he had the call on speakerphone, so she heard everything they discussed about the allegations.

Oh my god, can you BELIEVE it? Apparently, Busfield told the investigators that everything is just a setup! He says the parents of that little boy – and his twin! – are doing this because he didn’t ask them to come back on the show. It’s totally a revenge thing, they’re just lashing out because he didn’t give them what they wanted! I knew it, I KNEW he was being targeted!

The actor’s twin brother claimed Busfield would touch him on set, but he didn’t say the touching was sexual in nature.

According to the actor’s lawyer, Stein, an actress working on the show says the mother of the young actors told her she was seeking revenge against Busfield.

The arrest warrant stated that Busfield and Gilbert had personal relationships with the people involved and their families, beyond their professional connections.

According to a police warrant written by Officer Marvin Brown, they confirmed they had purchased Christmas gifts for the two boys and attended multiple social events together.

Oh my gosh, apparently Busfield was so generous! Brown said he’d always have the cast and their families over for little get-togethers, and his wife was just the sweetest – she’d even get everyone Christmas presents! It was all about making us feel like one big family, and honestly, it worked! It just shows how much he cared about everyone, not just on screen.

Court documents show the alleged abuse happened sometime between November 2022 and spring 2024.

The complaint states that at least one of the children involved was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the reported abuse.

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2026-01-14 19:10