Timothy Busfield
A versatile character actor who became the relatable, often frazzled emotional center of some of television's most defining dramas.
Born 1957 (age 69)·American actor and director·Birthday: June 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Timothy Busfield's career is a study in steady, impactful presence. He first gained wide recognition as the lovable nerd Poindexter in the 'Revenge of the Nerds' films, but it was his turn as Elliot Weston on 'Thirtysomething' that cemented his place. As the sensitive, sometimes volatile advertising executive, Busfield gave a generation a mirror for its anxieties, earning an Emmy for his raw performance. He later brought that same grounded intensity to the White House as dedicated reporter Danny Concannon on 'The West Wing.' Beyond acting, Busfield has directed extensively for television, helming episodes of series like 'Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip' and 'Lipstick Jungle,' proving his deep understanding of narrative both in front of and behind the camera.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Timothy was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Timothy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Timothy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role on 'Thirtysomething.'
- Played the pivotal role of White House correspondent Danny Concannon on the first four seasons of the acclaimed series 'The West Wing.'
- Co-founded the B Street Theatre in Sacramento, California, which grew into a major regional theatre company.
- Directed numerous episodes of television, including for series created by Aaron Sorkin and John Wells.
Did You Know?
He is married to actress Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls on 'Little House on the Prairie.'
He directed the world premiere of Aaron Sorkin's play 'The Farnsworth Invention.'
He appeared in the classic baseball film 'Field of Dreams' as Mark, the brother-in-law of Ray Kinsella.
He is a licensed private pilot.
“The work is about finding the truth in the scene, not just saying the lines.”
