Timothy Busfield was a dad of three before forming a blended family with wife Melissa Gilbert.
Busfield was first married to ex-wife Radha Delamarter from 1981 to 1986. The pair welcomed son Wilson during that time. Following his split from Delamarter, Busfield moved on with Jennifer Merwin, whom he wed in 1988. They welcomed Samuel and Daisy before divorcing in 2007.
Five years later, Gilbert and Busfield tied the knot. Busfield became stepfather to Gilbert’s children, sons Dakota and Michael, whom she welcomed during previous marriages. Gilbert and Busfield’s blended family have gathered over the years to celebrate countless occasions.
“As I put this post together, I see all of the incredible fathers who are in my life now,” Gilbert wrote via Instagram in June 2023 as the group celebrated Father’s Day. “Seeing how much they each love their children is so incredibly healing for me. Happy, Happy Father’s day to @samboxleitner @timbusfield #dakotabrinkman #alexfinch and @willybusfield ! I love you guys so much!!”
In January 2026, news broke that Busfield was accused of misconduct with a child actor on the set of the TV series The Cleaning Lady, which he served as an executive producer and director. According to an affidavit from the Albuquerque Police Department obtained by Us Weekly, the alleged incidents between Busfield and the child actor occurred between late 2022 and early 2024.
Busfield denied that there was anything “weird” about his interactions with the children on set in an interview with police during the investigation, per the docs. The West Wing actor is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.
Gilbert has not addressed the allegations against her husband and has deactivated her Instagram page.
Us has reached out to Busfield for further comment.
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Busfield’s three children:
Wilson Busfield
Wilson is Timothy’s oldest son and only child he shares with Delamarter. Much like his father, Wilson has pursued a career in the entertainment industry. He has worked behind the scenes on several projects.
He got his start in 2011 as a camera operator on the short film Light Escapes Through the Intervals. Two years later, he started working as a cinematographer with his first credit being for the music video for Poolside’s song “Only Everything,” which he also directed. Wilson has previously worked on films Boy, Doozy and Guest Artist. Wilson is also the writer and director for the upcoming documentary An Unfinished History.
Samuel Busfield
Samuel is Timothy’s second son, whom he welcomed with Merwin. Samuel opted not to follow in his family’s footsteps in the entertainment industry. He has chosen to remain out of the spotlight in favor of a private life.
Daisy Busfield
Daisy is Timothy’s only daughter, whom he shares with Merwin. According to her LinkedIn page, Daisy studied at Syracuse University and now works as a freelance photo stylist. Before going out for herself, Daisy previously worked as a photo stylist for major retail brands including Gap, Athleta and The Real Real.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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