Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield have been by each other’s side for more than a decade.
The couple initially met in 2012 before tying the knot one year later in California. While the pair do not share any biological children together, the Little House on the Prairie alum and Busfield are both parents from previous relationships.
News broke in January 2026 that an arrest warrant was issued for Busfield after allegations of child sex abuse. Less than one week later, he surrendered to the police and denied the claims.
“During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family, as they navigate this moment,” Gilbert’s rep shared regarding Busfield’s arrest after he turned himself into the police. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
Scroll down to learn more about Gilbert and Busfield’s relationship:
How Did Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield Meet?
Gilbert and Busfield initially crossed paths in a bar in Los Angeles in 2012. “I remember so clearly grabbing pizza and then looking in the door to make sure there wasn’t a lot going on,” Busfield recalled to People in 2022. “There was one person sitting at the bar and she had a fedora on, and I couldn’t tell who it was.”
Busfield introduced himself to Gilbert, and the pair began chatting. “I knew she was The One. It felt so real,” he told the outlet.
How Long Has Melissa Gilbert Been Married to Timothy Busfield?
Us Weekly broke the news in January 2013 that Busfield popped the question to Gilbert over the holidays. “They’ve known each other for quite some time, as their paths have crossed off-and-on over the past 20 years,” a source told Us at the time.
Later that year, the couple tied the knot in a private ceremony at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. Gilbert wore a red wedding dress for the occasion, which she later told People was “quite a search.”
“The moment I saw it, I knew … and the color spoke volumes,” Gilbert told the outlet of her gown. “Passion, fire, love: Red says all of those things to me. The dress will always hold our precious, precious memories.”
Do Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield Have Kids?
Prior to her marriage with Busfield, Gilbert was married to Bo Brinkman from 1998 to 1994. She also tied the knot with Bruce Boxleitner in 1995 before splitting in 2011. The exes share two children: Dakota, 36, and Michael, 30.
Busfield, meanwhile, was married to Radha Delamarter from 1981 to 1986 and Jenny Merwin from 1988 to 2007. He shares son Wilson with Delamarter, as well as two younger children with Merwin.
The pair have since shown glimpses of their blended family. “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 while 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!!”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
