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Timothy Busfield

Timothy Busfield

Actor and director, also producer · Born June 12, 1957 (69) · Lansing, Michigan, USA

Timothy Busfield (born June 12, 1957) is an American actor and director best known for his role as Eliot Weston on the television series Thirtysomething and his recurring role as Danny Concannon on the television series The West Wing. In 1991, he received a Primetime Emmy Award as best supporting actor in a drama series.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 12, 1957 (69)
From
Lansing, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor and director, also producer
Titles
71 on MovieCove · 107 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 31% in 30 days

What are Timothy Busfield's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
22%
Self
21%
Morality
20%
Society
14%
Power
10%
Survival
9%
Ideas
3%
Justice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 13 · Serious 6 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 17 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 10 · Charged 12 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 13 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 13 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 14 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 11 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 11
Ally
2 of 11
Threshold guardian
2 of 11
Mentor
2 of 11
Shadow
2 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Hopeful
9
Warm
7
Melancholic
8
Joyful
5
Other
24

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet10
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Timothy Busfield's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 71 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Timothy Busfield's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

107 credits, 71 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Citadel(2023)

    Show 1 episode · as Therapist Simmons

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • The Independent(2022)

    as Tom Mayfield

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • For Life(2020)

    Show 23 episodes · as Henry Roswell

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • FBI: Most Wanted(2020)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Dolly Parton's Heartstrings(2019)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Logan Cantrell

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Almost Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ron Doyle

  • The Loudest Voice(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Neil Mullin

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Guest Artist(2019)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Rookie(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • FBI(2018)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Designated Survivor(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as Dr. Adam Louden

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • This Is Us(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Billions(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Marc Ruloff

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Second Chance(2016)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Med(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Rosewood(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • Secrets and Lies(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · Director · as John Garner

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • 23 Blast(2014)

    as Duncan

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Night Shift(2014)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Sleepy Hollow(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · as Benjamin Franklin · as Benjamin Franklin (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Graceland(2013)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Restless Virgins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Senator Whitman

  • Nightcomer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Marty

  • Save the Date(2012)

    as Benjie

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Nashville(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Revolution(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Ethan Camp

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as George

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • The Client List(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all shows

  • Against the Wall(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Love Bites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Franklin & Bash(2011)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Beyond the Blackboard(2011)

    as School district's HR representative

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • No Ordinary Family(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Blue Bloods(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Bynes

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Glades(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • The Deep End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Maneater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Co-Executive Producer

  • Lie to Me(2009)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Childrens Hospital(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Bloomfield

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Ex List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Canterbury's Law(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Lipstick Jungle(2008)

    Show 20 episodes · Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • Damages(2007)

    Show 5 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip(2006)

    Show 22 episodes · Director · as Cal Shanley

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Psych(2006)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie(2005)

    as Timothy Busfield

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Retrosexual: The '80s (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 5 episodes · as (archive footage)

  • Entourage(2004)

    Show 2 episodes · as Timothy Busfield · as TV Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Good Girls Don't (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Summerland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Miss Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 9 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • National Security(2003)

    as Charlie Reed

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 160 episodes · Director · Producer · as Ed Felder

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Terminal Error(2002)

    as Elliot

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Dead in a Heartbeat(2002)

    as Franklin

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • First Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Lizzie McGuire(2001)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all shows

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 9 episodes · Director · as Lloyd Stevens

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 27 episodes · as Danny Concannon

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · as Daniel Carter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Darklings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Clayton Shepherd

  • Time at the Top(1999)

    as Frank Shawson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Wanted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Fr. Donnelly

  • The Souler Opposite(1998)

    as Robert Levin

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Sports Night(1998)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Rude Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as John

  • Erasable You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Brian

  • Dream House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Richard Connor Thornton

  • Buffalo Soldiers(1997)

    as Maj. Robert Carr

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Trucks(1997)

    as Ray

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • What's Right with America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Mr. Gordon

  • When Secrets Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Det. Walter Ferrence

  • First Kid(1996)

    as Woods

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Unspeakable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Matthew Grissom

  • Tracey Takes On... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Champs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 12 episodes · as Tom McManus

  • The Outer Limits(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Jon Holland

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped(1995)

    as Pete Honeycutt

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • In the Shadow of Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Det. Walt Keller

  • Quiz Show(1994)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Little Big League(1994)

    as Lou Collins

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Byrds of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Murder Between Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as John Thorn

  • Wall of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Ephraim Lipshitz

  • Striking Distance(1993)

    as Sacco

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Spy Guy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • The Skateboard Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Frank

  • Fade to Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Professor Del Calvin

  • Sneakers(1992)

    as Dick Gordon

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story(1992)

    as Fred Schultz

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Strays(1991)

    as Paul Jarrett

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Director · as Ray Backlund

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Field of Dreams(1989)

    as Mark

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • thirtysomething (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 85 episodes · Director · as Elliot Weston

  • Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise(1987)

    as Arnold Poindexter

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Adam Gardner

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Revenge of the Nerds(1984)

    as Arnold Poindexter

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Reggie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Mark Potter

  • Family Ties(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Doug · as Young Matt Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stripes(1981)

    as Soldier with Mortar

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 42 episodes · as J.T. McIntyre Jr.

  • One Smart Fellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Clark

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles, 106 of them dated from 1979 to 2023; peak year 1993.

Biggest box office

Sneakers (1992)

$105M worldwide

Highest rated

Beyond the Blackboard (2011)

Midcredits 94th

Most popular right now

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19792023

Peak 1993 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1981Screen debut· Stripes
  • 1984Breakout· Revenge of the Nerds
  • 1997First top-billed film· Trucks
  • 2020Career best· For Life

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting72 of 107: 63 only acting, 9 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stDirecting44 of 107: 32 only directing, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndProducing4 of 107: 0 only producing, 4 with another role

107 titles, 12 with more than one role — acting and directing overlap on 9 of them.

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew1990s34 · 33 acting · 3 crew2000s26 · 10 acting · 19 crew2010s32 · 15 acting · 20 crew2020s4 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 6% of 17 roles
8196

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Timothy Busfield's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 38th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 71 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 71 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (2005)

99th percentile spread · 51% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The West Wing (1999)

Midcredits 98th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 23 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Timothy Busfield's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles6–70 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles18–45 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles32–75 · median 55 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles15–59 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles8–48 · median 24 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Timothy Busfield work with?

People who share at least 2 of Timothy Busfield's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Phil Alden Robinson shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers