As Hollywood actor Timonthy Busfield faces child sex abuse charges, when did he marry Melissa Gilbert?

Hollywood actor Timothy Busfield, who appeared on the West Wing, is reportedly facing two counts of sexual abuse. People magazine reported that “he is facing two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse.

“In an arrest warrant issued by the Albuquerque Police Department and obtained by PEOPLE on Friday, Jan. 9, authorities allege that Busfield, 68, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two 11-year-old siblings, whose identities were withheld from the public.”

Hollywood actor Timothy Busfield has been married to ‘Little House on the Prairie’ star Melissa Gilbert since 2013. Timothy Busfield has been married three times, his first wife was actress and director Radha Delamarter, the couple divorced in 1986.

Timothy Busfield’s second marriage was to fashion designer Jennifer Merwin, the couple had two children, he had one son with his first wife Radha. His children are Samuel, Daisy and Wilson.

In 2013, Timothy Busfield and Melissa Gilbert married in a small ceremony in Santa Barbara. The couple met in a bar whilst Melissa was waiting to meet a friend.

Timothy Busfield recalled their first encounter to People magazine and said: "I remember so clearly grabbing pizza and then looking in the door to make sure there wasn't a lot going on. There was one person sitting at the bar and she had a fedora on, and I couldn't tell who it was, but I knew it was problematic.

“And it'd been about eight months I hadn't been on a date and I was so happy and I was spooning with my pillow and really enjoying going to bed, not involved in a relationship."

Before marrying Timothy Busfield, Melissa Gilbert had been married to Bo Brinkman from 1988 until 1994 and her second husband Bruce Boxleitner from 1995 until 2011. Melissa Gilbert is mum to two sons, Dakota and Michael.

In April 2022, Melissa Gilbert shared a photograph from her wedding to Timothy Busfield and wrote: “Nine years ago today. The traditional 9th anniversary gift is pottery. He gave me a lovely Roseville vase to add to my collection. I made him an oblong plate to hold his keys, glasses etc. then…THEN….he played his guitar and sang me the song he’d written for me. The song is titled Never Gonna Let You Go. Truly THE MOST extraordinary gift ANYONE has ever given me.”

In response to her wedding photograph at the time, one fan wrote: “Happy Anniversary holy moly 12 years 👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️love you two!!”

Another fan said: “Happy Anniversary! Many more beautiful memories to come ! May you always be blessed! 🥂❤️ .”

In November last year, Melissa Gilbert took to her Instagram and shared a photograph of her and husband Timonty. She wrote: ”This is how we do a date day: .Driving through stunning beauty to go get our favorite vegan food at @fogwoodandfig and then to see @blackphonemovie followed by grocery shopping. We are a wild pair @timbusfield and I!! #dateday#outwithmyfella#goingonadate#lovemylife#sullivancountycatskills.”

Fans have taken to Melissa Gilbert’s Instagram to express their concern about the allegations and one writes: “I’m thinking of you. Praying it’s not true. 🫶,” whilst another said: “Please turn your comments off.”

Melissa Gilbert previously spoke to People magazine about her marriage to Timothy Busfield and said: “It's all of the good things that a relationship should be,” and added that “There is rarely drama, and if there is drama, it's not caused by us. It comes from outside, and we handle it in a much different way.”