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Timothy Busfield

Highest Rated: 88% Stripes (1981)

Lowest Rated: 7% Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987)

Birthday: Jun 12, 1957

Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, USA

Character actor Timothy Busfield was already a veteran of two television series by the time he rose to fame with his Emmy-winning performance as Elliot Weston, who struggled with infidelity and his wife's cancer on "thirtysomething" (ABC, 1987-1991). In its wake, Busfield starred and/or guested on several more programs; some notable - "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006) - and others less than memorable - "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC, 2006-07). In many cases, however, his easygoing flair for both high drama and comedy were often the show's best asset. Along the way, Busfield developed into a dependable TV director and a likable lead in several features and made-for-TV movies.

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Highest rated movies

88% 86% Field of Dreams Watchlist 88% 79% Stripes Watchlist
80% 80% Sneakers
Watchlist
70% 73% Revenge of the Nerds
Watchlist 63% 33% Guest Artist Watchlist
47% 36% Save the Date
Watchlist
40% 25% Restless Virgins
Watchlist
36% 66% 23 Blast
Watchlist 35% 67% The Independent Watchlist
35% 54% Little Big League
Watchlist
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Timothy Busfield

Timothy Busfield Mind Games, Timothy Busfield, 02/25/2014, ©ABC REVENGE OF THE NERDS II, NERDS IN PARADISE, (clockwise from Top L), Timothy Busfield, Robert Carradine, Curtis Armstrong, Andrew Cassese, Larry B. Scott, 1987. TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved. REVENGE OF THE NERDS, Timothy Busfield, 1984. TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.. REVENGE OF THE NERDS, Timothy Busfield, Brian Tochi, Curtis Armstrong, 1984. TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.. REVENGE OF THE NERDS II, NERDS IN PARADISE, from left, Larry B. Scott, Andrew Cassese, Timothy Busfield, Robert Carradine, Curtis Armstrong, 1987, TM and Copyright ©20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved. LITTLE BIG LEAGUE, Ken Griffey Jr., Timothy Busfield, 1994. (c)Columbia Pictures REVENGE OF THE NERDS, (front row only, l to r) Brian Tochi, Curtis Armstrong, Anthony Edwards, Andrew Cassese, Robert Carradine, Timothy Busfield, Larry B. Scott, 1984, TM & Copyright (c) 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.. LITTLE BIG LEAGUE, Timothy Busfield, Luke Edwards, Ken Griffey Jr., 1994, (c)Columbia Pictures REVENGE OF THE NERDS, Brian Tochi, Curtis Armstrong, Anthony Edwards, Andrew Cassese, Robert Carradine, Timothy Busfield, Larry B. Scott, etc, 1984. TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved.. View more photos

Filmography

Movies

Credit
35% 67% The Independent Tom Mayfield (Character) - 2022
63% 33% Guest Artist Director,
Producer 		$7.0K 2019
36% 66% 23 Blast Jasper A. Duncan (Character) $485.1K 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nightcomer Marty (Character) - 2013
40% 25% Restless Virgins Senator Whitman (Character) - 2013
47% 36% Save the Date Benjie (Character) $3.8K 2012
No Score Yet 82% Beyond the Blackboard School district's HR representative (Character) - 2011
No Score Yet 34% Maneater Director - 2009
11% 45% National Security Charlie Reed (Character) $35.8M 2003
No Score Yet 50% Dead in a Heartbeat Franklin (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 48% Terminal Error Elliot (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 43% Wanted Fr. Donnelly (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 62% Time at the Top Frank Shawson (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Darklings Clayton Shepherd (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Erasable You Brian (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 17% Dream House Richard Connor Thornton (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 67% The Souler Opposite Robert Levin (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 59% Buffalo Soldiers Maj. Robert Carr (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet 30% Trucks Ray (Character) - 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet When Secrets Kill Det. Walter Ferrence (Character) - 1997
20% 32% First Kid Woods (Character) $26.5M 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Unspeakable Matthew Grissom (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the Shadow of Evil Det. Walt Keller (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped Pete Honeycutt (Character) - 1995
35% 54% Little Big League Lou Collins (Character) $12.1M 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet Murder Between Friends John Thorn (Character) - 1994
20% 35% Striking Distance Tony Sacco (Character) $23.8M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wall of Silence Ephraim Lipshitz (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fade to Black Professor Del Calvin (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 52% The Skateboard Kid Frank (Character) - 1993
80% 80% Sneakers Dick Gordon (Character) $50.6M 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story Fred Schultz (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 34% Strays Paul Jarrett (Character) - 1991
88% 86% Field of Dreams Mark (Character) $61.8M 1989
7% 35% Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise Arnold Poindexter (Character) $25.5M 1987
70% 73% Revenge of the Nerds Arnold Poindexter (Character) - 1984
88% 79% Stripes Soldier with mortar (Character) - 1981

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 50% The Cleaning Lady Director 2024
No Score Yet 62% FBI Director 2021 2023
No Score Yet 75% Chicago Med Director 2021-2023
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Unknown (Guest Star),
Director 		2010 2023
No Score Yet 48% FBI: Most Wanted Director 2022
86% 75% For Life Henry Roswell (Character) 2020-2021
93% 47% The Conners Director 2020
32% 81% Almost Family Ron Doyle (Guest Star) 2019-2020
57% 94% Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Logan Cantrell (Character) 2019
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Daniel Carter (Guest Star),
Director 		2011 2019
No Score Yet 76% The Rookie Director 2018
91% 73% Nashville Director 2017-2018
71% 53% Designated Survivor Dr. Adam Louden (Guest Star),
Director 		2018
86% 85% Graceland Director 2015
35% 74% Secrets and Lies Unknown (Guest Star),
Director 		2015
No Score Yet 77% The Night Shift Shane (Guest Star) 2015
74% 73% Sleepy Hollow Unknown (Guest Star) 2014-2015
28% 43% Mind Games Director 2014
68% 78% The Client List Director 2012-2013
67% 66% Revolution Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
61% 84% Franklin & Bash Director 2012
No Score Yet 81% Blue Bloods Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
74% 67% The Defenders Director 2010
71% 82% No Ordinary Family Director 2010
16% No Score Yet The Deep End Director 2010
No Score Yet 86% Lie to Me Director 2009
65% 82% Entourage TV Director (Guest Star) 2005 2009
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maneater Director 2009
19% No Score Yet Lipstick Jungle Executive Producer 2008-2009
65% No Score Yet The Ex List Director 2008
74% 90% Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Cal Shanley (Character) 2006-2007
81% 95% The West Wing Danny Concannon (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star) 		1999-2000 2002-2003 2005-2006
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star),
Director 		2004-2006
20% No Score Yet Summerland Director 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ed Unknown (Guest Star) 2002 2004
96% 73% Joan of Arcadia Director 2004
83% No Score Yet That's Life Director 2002
90% 93% Sports Night Director 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Champs Tom McManus (Character) 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Dr. Jon Holland (Character) 1995
60% No Score Yet The Byrds of Paradise Sam Byrd (Character) 1994
83% No Score Yet thirtysomething Elliot Weston (Character) 1987-1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Matlock Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Trapper John, M.D. Dr. John 'J.T.' McIntyre (Character) 1984-1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Unknown (Guest Star) 1985
No Score Yet 89% Family Ties Unknown (Guest Star) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Danny Director