"thirtysomething" Showrunner and Cast Members Support Timothy Busfield - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 01-17-2026, 07:24 PM

Timothy Busfield Slams Child Sex Abuse Case for “Absence of Genuine Evidence”; "thirtysomething" Castmates Offer Strong Support
by Dominic Patten
January 16, 2026

With strong support from the cast and co-creator of "thirtysomething" and others, Timothy Busfield has come out forcefully tonight against the child sex abuse charges against him, as well as attempts by prosecutors to keep him behind bars.

“The State’s attempt to transform responsible self-surrender into aggravating conduct only underscores the absence of genuine evidence of dangerousness,” declares an opposition filing just placed in the New Mexico courts seeking to blunt pre-trial efforts by Bernalillo County DA ( and gubernatorial candidate) Sam Bergman’s office.

In addition to taking swipes at the personal, professional and legal history (father admitted to “conspiracy to commit wire fraud” and was disbarred) of the boys’ parents, tonight’s filing ahead of a pre-trial detention hearing next week contains a slew of letters from his wife Melissa Gilbert, "thirtysomething" showrunner Edward Zwick, Patty Duke’s son MacKenzie Astin, and other fellow actors extolling Busfield’s virtues.

“Timothy is my friend, so no doubt I’m biased,” says "thirtysomething" cast member Ken Olin in a letter included. “But I know him well, through many years and many changing life circumstances, and he has always been a man who cares about other people – old and young. And I know in the very bottom of my heart that Timothy would never do anything to cruelly exploit or harm anyone, let alone a child.”

Fellow castmates Peter Horton and Patricia Wellig Olin, who played Busfield’s wife on the ABC series from 1987-1991, offered similar sentiments.

https://deadline.com/2026/01/timothy...ng-1236685752/

01-17-2026, 07:24 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,020	"thirtysomething" Showrunner and Cast Members Support Timothy Busfield *Timothy Busfield Slams Child Sex Abuse Case for “Absence of Genuine Evidence”; "thirtysomething" Castmates Offer Strong Support* by Dominic Patten January 16, 2026 With strong support from the cast and co-creator of "thirtysomething" and others, Timothy Busfield has come out forcefully tonight against the child sex abuse charges against him, as well as attempts by prosecutors to keep him behind bars. “The State’s attempt to transform responsible self-surrender into aggravating conduct only underscores the absence of genuine evidence of dangerousness,” declares an opposition filing just placed in the New Mexico courts seeking to blunt pre-trial efforts by Bernalillo County DA ( and gubernatorial candidate) Sam Bergman’s office. In addition to taking swipes at the personal, professional and legal history (father admitted to “conspiracy to commit wire fraud” and was disbarred) of the boys’ parents, tonight’s filing ahead of a pre-trial detention hearing next week contains a slew of letters from his wife Melissa Gilbert, "thirtysomething" showrunner Edward Zwick, Patty Duke’s son MacKenzie Astin, and other fellow actors extolling Busfield’s virtues. “Timothy is my friend, so no doubt I’m biased,” says "thirtysomething" cast member Ken Olin in a letter included. “But I know him well, through many years and many changing life circumstances, and he has always been a man who cares about other people – old and young. And I know in the very bottom of my heart that Timothy would never do anything to cruelly exploit or harm anyone, let alone a child.” Fellow castmates Peter Horton and Patricia Wellig Olin, who played Busfield’s wife on the ABC series from 1987-1991, offered similar sentiments. https://deadline.com/2026/01/timothy...ng-1236685752/