Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield's Relationship Timeline: From Hollywood Romance to Serious Allegations
Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield have been married since 2013, following established careers in the entertainment industry.
“Navigating the entertainment world in Los Angeles presents unique challenges because it’s so pervasive in the city [and] so many people are involved in it in some capacity,” Gilbert, most recognized for her role as Laura Ingalls on The Little House on the Prairie, explained during a 2019 conversation on Better Connecticut. “There’s a distinct external pressure to conform to a certain appearance.”
Gilbert continued, “[When] I encountered Tim, he mentioned he resided in Michigan, and I replied, ‘Bring me.’ I was simply finished. I desired to age naturally.”
Gilbert was previously joined in marriage to Bo Brinkman from 1998 to 1994 and Bruce Boxleitner, with whom the actress shares two children, from 1995 to 2011.
Timothy Busfield's Wife Shared Information Regarding Child Sexual Abuse Shortly Before a Warrant Was Issued
Busfield, for his part, was wed to Radha Delamarter from 1981 to 1986 and Jenny Merwin from 1988 to 2007. The West Wing actor shares a son, Wilson, with Delamarter, as well as two younger children with Merwin.
Amid the couple’s 13-year marriage, news emerged in January 2016 that an arrest warrant had been issued for Busfield due to allegations of child sexual abuse. In the weeks leading up to the warrant’s issuance, Gilbert spoke out about child sexual abuse and her experience as a 15-year-old child star sharing a romantic storyline with a then-23-year-old actor.
Here’s a timeline detailing Gilbert and Busfield’s relationship:
2012
Gilbert and Busfield began dating after they met at a bar in Los Angeles.
“I vividly recall ordering pizza and then glancing through the door to assess the atmosphere,” Busfield shared with People in 2022. “There was only one individual seated at the bar, and she was wearing a fedora, making it difficult to identify her.”
Busfield subsequently introduced himself to Gilbert, and they engaged in conversation throughout the evening.
“I knew immediately that she was the one. It felt incredibly genuine,” he told the publication.
December 2012
Us Weekly reported in January 2013 that Busfield proposed to Gilbert during the holiday season.
“They’ve known each other for quite some time, as their paths have crossed intermittently over the past 20 years,” a source informed Us.
April 2013
The two actors exchanged vows in a private ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, where Gilbert wore a red wedding gown.
“It was a rather extensive search. The moment I laid eyes on it, I knew … and the color conveyed so much,” Gilbert told People regarding her crimson bridal gown. “The dress will forever hold our cherished, precious memories.”
Following their marriage, Gilbert relocated to live with Busfield in his home state of Michigan.
2018
The pair transitioned from Michigan to New York City.
“It became essential for us to have a retreat,” Gilbert told The New York Times in January 2019 regarding their purchase of a fixer-upper in upstate New York. “This is one of those properties that most people would say, ‘Are you serious?’ if you expressed interest in acquiring it. Tim and I are the ideal kind of eccentric. We’re optimistic visionaries. We recognized that this house would provide us with shelter and serve us well.”
March 2020
Gilbert and Busfield launched their collaborative “Gilbert & Busfield” podcast during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. They ultimately recorded 18 episodes, recounting their life together and sharing memorable Hollywood stories.
January 2026
Us confirmed on January 9 that authorities in New Mexico issued an arrest warrant after Busfield was accused of child sexual abuse. Busfield was not immediately taken into custody and asserted in an investigative interview that it was “highly improbable” he had any physical contact with the accusers.
Furthermore, a police officer’s statement within the warrant obtained by Us indicated that Busfield and Gilbert disclosed they did have “a relationship” with the alleged victims and their families and had previously purchased Christmas gifts for them.
Gilbert has not publicly commented on the warrant or her relationship with the accusers. Less than two months prior, the actress did post on social media denouncing child sexual abuse as “disgusting.”
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is facing child abuse, call or text the Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
