Actor and director, Timothy Busfield and his wife, Melissa Gilbert, addressed allegations of inappropriate conduct with child actors on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” during a phone interview with Albuquerque detectives in November 2025. At the time of the phone call, Busfield was in New York. The allegations stemmed from Busfield’s interactions with two child actors while filming a specific episode of the show. Busfield denied ever being alone with the child actors.”Never, never ever ever once were we alone on this set,” said Busfield. He explained that a parent or teacher was always present with the children. When asked if he had ever inappropriately touched the boys, Busfield said no.”Never anything, ugh, it’s disgusting, never anything of any sexually, any weird ever, with them. That’s disgusting,” said Busfield. He added that his goal was to ensure the child actors were happy so they could perform well. Gilbert defended her husband in the interview.”I always admired the way Tim works with children because he makes them so comfortable and feels so safe,” she said.The couple claimed the allegations were false and motivated by revenge, as the children were not hired for another season of the show.”I will be forthright with you about everything, I have nothing to hide here, but one thing I can’t say going forward with the lawsuits is…. take a look in their finances and look at their past and maybe their criminal record and what they might have done to try to secure money in their lives,” said Busfield.Both Busfield and Gilbert described the allegations as disgusting and noted that the children continued to work with them for another season following the episode in question, which they said made the accusations even more unusual. Two months after the interview, Albuquerque police issued an arrest warrant for Busfield. He was later indicted by a grand jury in February of this year.
Actor and director, Timothy Busfield and his wife, Melissa Gilbert, addressed allegations of inappropriate conduct with child actors on the set of “The Cleaning Lady” during a phone interview with Albuquerque detectives in November 2025.
At the time of the phone call, Busfield was in New York. The allegations stemmed from Busfield’s interactions with two child actors while filming a specific episode of the show.
Busfield denied ever being alone with the child actors.
“Never, never ever ever once were we alone on this set,” said Busfield. He explained that a parent or teacher was always present with the children.
When asked if he had ever inappropriately touched the boys, Busfield said no.
“Never anything, ugh, it’s disgusting, never anything of any sexually, any weird ever, with them. That’s disgusting,” said Busfield. He added that his goal was to ensure the child actors were happy so they could perform well.
Gilbert defended her husband in the interview.
“I always admired the way Tim works with children because he makes them so comfortable and feels so safe,” she said.
The couple claimed the allegations were false and motivated by revenge, as the children were not hired for another season of the show.
“I will be forthright with you about everything, I have nothing to hide here, but one thing I can’t say going forward with the lawsuits is…. take a look in their finances and look at their past and maybe their criminal record and what they might have done to try to secure money in their lives,” said Busfield.
Both Busfield and Gilbert described the allegations as disgusting and noted that the children continued to work with them for another season following the episode in question, which they said made the accusations even more unusual.
Two months after the interview, Albuquerque police issued an arrest warrant for Busfield. He was later indicted by a grand jury in February of this year.
