Hollywood’s Dark Secrets Exposed: Julia Roberts’ Sister-in-Law Eliza Roberts’ Chilling 1994 Testimony Brands Timothy Busfield a ‘Creep’ Who Sexually Harassed Her – Decades Before His Shocking Arrest for Alleged Child Abuse
In the glittering facade of Hollywood, where fame and fortune often mask the ugliest truths, a long-buried deposition has resurfaced like a ghost from the past, casting a haunting shadow over one of Tinseltown’s once-respected figures. Eliza Roberts, the acclaimed actress and sister-in-law to megastar Julia Roberts, delivered a bombshell testimony in 1994 that painted Timothy Busfield—the Emmy-winning star of “Thirtysomething” and “The West Wing”—as a predatory “creep” who subjected her to graphic sexual harassment. Her words, raw and unflinching, likened Busfield’s behavior to that of a rapist, driven by compulsion and indiscriminate in his targets. This explosive revelation, detailed in a sworn statement obtained by Daily Mail, comes amid Busfield’s recent arrest on January 9, 2026, for allegedly inappropriately touching two 11-year-old twin boys on the set of the Fox series “The Cleaning Lady.” As the 68-year-old actor prepares for his court appearance on February 4, 2026, Eliza’s account adds fuel to a firestorm of allegations spanning decades, raising chilling questions: How many victims have suffered in silence, and why has Hollywood turned a blind eye for so long?
Eliza Roberts, now 73, is no stranger to the spotlight. Born Eliza Garrett in 1953, she burst onto the scene in the late 1970s with her memorable role in the cult classic “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” where her portrayal of a sorority girl showcased her sharp wit and undeniable charisma. Over the years, she built a solid career as an actress, appearing in films like “Doctor Who” (1996) and “Alligator II: The Mutation” (1991), while also establishing herself as a respected casting director and producer. Her marriage to Eric Roberts—Julia Roberts’ Oscar-nominated brother and father to actress Emma Roberts—in 1992 solidified her place in one of Hollywood’s most prominent families. Together, the couple runs a production company, blending their professional and personal lives in the cutthroat world of entertainment. But beneath this golden exterior lies a story of trauma that Eliza carried for years, one that she finally unleashed in a 1994 deposition, driven by a sense of justice for other women who had fallen prey to Busfield’s alleged advances.
The genesis of Eliza’s testimony traces back to a seemingly innocuous encounter in 1989, when she was 36 and Busfield was 32. At the time, Busfield was riding high on the success of “Thirtysomething,” a groundbreaking ABC drama that earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy Award. Married to his first wife, Radha Delamarter, with whom he shared three children, Busfield presented himself as a family man. But according to Eliza, that image shattered during a chance meeting at a children’s bookstore in Santa Monica, California. She had met Busfield only a couple of times prior, through mutual casting connections, and described their acquaintance as superficial at best.
What started as a casual conversation about children quickly veered into uncomfortable territory. Busfield, she claimed, steered the discussion toward marriage, passion, sex, and divorce—topics that left her feeling uneasy. He complimented her beauty, but the flattery soon turned predatory. “He started to say how he was attracted to me…and I just kind of said, thanks for the compliment, and see you later, and I went out to my car,” Eliza recounted in her deposition. But Busfield didn’t stop there. He followed her to her vehicle, leaning into the window and unleashing a torrent of explicit propositions. “He said things like… ‘I would really love to know how you taste. What makes you c***? I would like to lick your p****.’ Things like that and it was shocking. And I was really upset.”
The harassment didn’t end at the bookstore. Eliza alleged that Busfield tailed her to a nearby car wash, continuing his barrage of lewd comments. He boasted about his prowess in bed, claiming he would be “so great,” and expressed desires for oral sex while disparaging his own wife as a “lousy f***.” For Eliza, the experience was not just offensive—it was deeply violating. “It was a very upsetting experience. It was a very ugly experience,” she testified. “I had a sick feeling inside of me.” She likened the encounter to an assault, emphasizing the powerlessness she felt in the moment. Fearful of the publicity and its potential impact on her family and career, Eliza initially chose silence. “I didn’t want to do anything about it at the time because I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it,” she explained. But the memory festered, a dark cloud over her otherwise thriving life.
Fast forward to 1994, when a newspaper article in the Twin Cities Reader caught Eliza’s eye. It detailed allegations from a 17-year-old extra on the set of “Little Big League,” a family-friendly baseball film Busfield was directing in Minneapolis. The teenager claimed Busfield invited her to his trailer, plied her with alcohol, and propositioned her for sex. Busfield vehemently denied the accusations, but for Eliza, the story rang alarmingly true. Indignant at the dismissal of the young girl’s claims—often labeled as lies or exaggerations—she decided to come forward. “I just felt that this guy shouldn’t be allowed to be believed because he has a serious problem and he’s made it other peoples’ problem,” she stated.
In her deposition, Eliza didn’t mince words. She branded Busfield a “creep” who “harassed and humiliated” her, drawing parallels to rapists who act on compulsion without regard for their victims’ appearances or circumstances. “They don’t choose only pretty girls to rape. I mean, when people have a compulsion… you never know who their target is… It could be anybody,” she said. Eliza expressed no doubt in the 17-year-old’s allegations: “I definitely believe the allegations. There’s no question in my mind.” She speculated on Busfield’s mindset, suggesting he might be in denial or fully aware of his actions but unwilling to change. “I don’t know if he believes his own lies. I doubt it. I think he knows what he does,” she asserted.
The impact of that 1989 encounter extended into Eliza’s professional life. When Busfield’s name surfaced as a potential co-star in a film project with her husband Eric, she immediately vetoed it. “The second I saw his name I said, ‘Eric, that’s the guy who harassed me’… It was enough for me to feel that we did not want to work with him or have contact with him,” she revealed. This decision underscored the lingering trauma and her determination to protect herself and others from similar experiences.
Eliza’s testimony was part of a broader wave of support for the 17-year-old accuser. Six other women provided sworn statements corroborating patterns of Busfield’s behavior. Three were involved in the “Little Big League” production, while two Minneapolis women described persistent, aggressively sexual advances from Busfield in local bars. These accounts painted a picture of a man who allegedly used his position of power to pursue women relentlessly, often crossing boundaries without consent.
The 1994 lawsuit against Busfield was eventually settled out of court on July 11, 1995. Reports from the time indicate the accuser initially rejected a six-figure mediation offer but ultimately expressed satisfaction with the resolution. Yet, this was far from the end of the allegations against Busfield. In 2001, a 16-year-old girl in Sacramento accused him of groping her at a theater he co-founded with his brother. Court documents detail how he allegedly “kissed her, put his hands down her pants and touched her privates,” then begged the family not to report him if he sought therapy. Another incident in 2012 involved a woman who claimed Busfield groped her in a cinema; he countered that it was consensual.
These resurfaced claims gain new urgency in light of Busfield’s 2026 arrest. On January 9, while directing episodes of “The Cleaning Lady” in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Busfield was accused of inappropriately touching twin 11-year-old boys, identified as “VL” and “SL,” who were extras on the show. The boys’ parents reported the incident, leading to his detention. Busfield denied the allegations, and at a January 20 hearing, his attorney Amber Fayerberg argued that the family were “scammers” seeking revenge after the boys lost their roles. “The LaSalle/Rodis family has already gotten their revenge… Mr. Busfield has been cancelled. His career is over… His life is ruined, but his liberty under the rules can be restored,” she pleaded.
Judge David A. Murphy ruled there was no probable cause for continued detention, citing the “neutral” weight of evidence and Busfield’s lack of criminal history. Notably, the judge mentioned that prior allegations involving adults had not been judicially vetted and were unrelated to children. Busfield’s wife, Melissa Gilbert—known for her role in “Little House on the Prairie”—was visibly emotional, mouthing “He’s going home” as he was released. Gilbert penned a heartfelt letter to the judge, vouching for her husband’s character and their 13-year marriage.
Busfield’s legal team has dismissed the historic allegations as unproven and irrelevant. Attorney Larry Stein told People magazine, “These are unsubstantiated claims from decades ago that have no bearing on the current case.” Yet, for Eliza Roberts, the truth remains unchanged. Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail on February 1, 2026, she stood firm: “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.” Her words carry the weight of regret—not for speaking out, but for the pain of reliving the event. “The women… deserve support and corroboration,” she emphasized, highlighting her commitment to amplifying victims’ voices.
This scandal peels back layers of Hollywood’s underbelly, where power imbalances and silence have allowed alleged predators to thrive. Busfield, once celebrated for his nuanced portrayals of complex characters, now faces a reckoning that could dismantle his legacy. His career highlights—three Emmys for “Thirtysomething,” memorable roles in “Field of Dreams” and “Sneakers,” and directing stints on shows like “Ed” and “Without a Trace”—stand in stark contrast to the mounting accusations. Married to Gilbert since 2013, after previous unions, Busfield had reinvented himself as a director and theater founder, but these revelations threaten to overshadow it all.
For the Roberts family, this is more than tabloid fodder; it’s a personal vindication. Julia Roberts, the Pretty Woman icon with an Oscar for “Erin Brockovich,” has remained silent, but her brother Eric’s unwavering support for Eliza speaks volumes. Emma Roberts, starring in hits like “American Horror Story,” represents the next generation, untouched by the drama but connected through blood.
As Busfield’s court date looms, the industry watches breathlessly. Will more victims emerge? Can redemption follow such damning claims? Eliza’s testimony, once buried in legal files, now demands answers. In a town built on illusions, the truth is finally breaking free—raw, riveting, and impossible to ignore. Hollywood’s golden veneer is cracking, and what lies beneath is anything but pretty.
