A renewed spotlight has been placed on actor and director Timothy Busfield as he currently faces criminal charges tied to allegations involving two child actors. The resurfaced allegations come from a 1994 deposition by Eliza Roberts, an actress and casting director married to Julia Roberts’ brother Eric, who described disturbing behavior by Busfield years ago. The unfolding situation highlights ongoing concerns around Busfield’s conduct with minors over several decades.
Details From a 1994 Sworn Deposition
More than 30 years ago, Eliza Roberts gave a sworn statement after reading media reports about a teenager accusing Busfield of inappropriate conduct during the filming of Little Big League. She explained to attorneys at that time that she was “stunned to hear” the accusations because
“the same thing happened to me with him.”
The deposition recounts how Roberts encountered Busfield in a children’s bookstore in Santa Monica, where their conversation shifted uncomfortably from family topics to discussions of
“marriage and passion and sex and divorce.”
Roberts recalled Busfield expressing attraction toward her, to which she responded politely and attempted to end the interaction. However, when she turned to leave and enter her car, she found Busfield unexpectedly close to her window. It was then that the alleged harassment escalated with Busfield making “very graphic” sexual comments and derogatory remarks about his wife. Roberts described how he followed her to a car wash where the unwanted conduct continued, saying it was
“very hard to get rid of him”
and left her with “a sick feeling inside.”
In support of the teen girl’s accusations from the 1990s, five other women later submitted sworn declarations describing similar experiences. Those claims led to a 1995 lawsuit, which was settled out of court. Recently, Roberts reaffirmed her original statements by saying,
“I stand by everything I said then. The reason why I stand by it is because it was true then and it is true now.”
Current Criminal Charges and Allegations
The older deposition has reemerged at a time when Busfield is facing criminal charges stemming from misconduct allegations involving twin boys, aged 11, who acted in Fox’s series The Cleaning Lady. According to legal documents, these boys accuse Busfield of inappropriate touching that began in 2022 when they were seven years old. Busfield surrendered to Albuquerque police last month and was released on his own recognizance, with a judge noting his lack of prior criminal history and the absence of corroborating evidence at that stage.
Court records reviewed by The Washington Post reveal that prosecutors cited several past accusations against Busfield in their filings. These include the Little Big League incident, an allegation of abuse toward a 16-year-old during an audition approximately in 2001, and a 2012 claim involving battery of a woman in a movie theater. It is important to note that Busfield was never formally charged in any of these previous cases.
Busfield has categorically denied the recent accusations. His legal representatives contend that the parents of the alleged victims are pursuing financial gain and revenge. They accuse the couple of being “con artists,” pointing out that the father has a fraud conviction and was disbarred as an attorney, while the mother reportedly holds multiple civil judgments for fraud.
The criminal matter involving the twin boys remains active and unresolved.
Context Around the Accusations and Their Potential Impact
This situation raises significant concerns due to the nature and repeated emergence of allegations revolving around Timothy Busfield. The fact that former claims from decades ago are resurfacing amid current accusations against young minors intensifies public scrutiny and caution around his behavior in professional settings. As investigations continue, the case sheds light on broader issues of misconduct in entertainment circles, emphasizing the need for thorough legal processes and protections for vulnerable actors, particularly children.
These ongoing proceedings are likely to influence conversations on accountability within Hollywood, especially regarding how claims are handled and how victims are supported. The involvement of prominent figures such as Julia Roberts’ family adds to the public interest and emotional weight surrounding these developments. The legal outcomes will be pivotal for all parties involved, potentially shaping policies and awareness around such allegations in the industry.
