Actor Gary Busey is facing sexual-related charges filed by the Cherry Hill, New Jersey police.
Over the weekend, the actor was at the recently held Monster-Mania Convention, which featured other stars like Ralph Macchio, Tom Skerritt, and Veronica Cartwright. Busey has appeared in earlier iterations of Monster-Mania and was invited as a guest star for the convention.
Busey caused controversy at the event this year for inappropriately touching several of the attendees. The father of three has now been charged with four counts of sexually related offenses by police officers who responded to the complaints.
Read below for more details.
Four Charges Filed Against Busey
According to reports garnered by Variety, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey police have filed four charges against Busey – one count of attempting criminal sexual contact in the fourth degree and one disorderly conduct count of harassment.
From Aug 12 through Aug 14, the “Camp Manna” actor was in Cherry Hill to attend the Monster-Mania Convention, held at the Doubletree Hotel. The event holds twice a year to celebrate horror films and connect fans with their favorite actors.
Busey was at the event as a guest star, per the publication. However, as the event was ongoing, several complaints were made about the actor’s inappropriate conduct, and the Cherry Hill police got called in to investigate.
The law authorities questioned attendees and other complainants as part of the investigation, after which they filed criminal charges against the 78-year -old Hollywood star. Per Variety, the Cherry Hill Police are still investigating the incident despite filing the charges, seemingly in preparation for a possible court case against Bussey.
‘It Was About Contact’
A representative of the Cherry Hill Township Police, Lt. Robert Scheunemann, issued a statement regarding their response to the “multiple” complaints about Busey’s conduct.
“It was about contact. It was about touching,” the officer confirmed to the press, per the Inquirer.
The organizers of the convention, Monster – Mania LLC, also released a statement through their attorney that the actor was removed from the convention in the wake of the allegations.
“[HE ]was removed from the convention and instructed not to return,” the statement read.
Busey, who lives in Malibu, Calif., outside Los Angeles, is yet to comment about the charges. No attorney for the actor has also made an official comment on the issue since it made headlines. Additionally, the police are yet to reveal further details about the next step in pursuing the case.
Gary Busey’s Erratic Behaviour
Fans shouldn’t be too surprised by Busey’s recent charges due to his history of acting erratically. The actor was engaged in a motorcycle accident in 1988, one year after winning the CableACE Awards for his performance in “The Hitchhiker,” which at the time nearly proved fatal.
Per the Inquirer, the actor was not donning his helmet, making him suffer head injuries. He ultimately recovered completely and resumed his acting career. He was arrested on drug charges in 1995 after taking an almost deadly cocaine overdose at his Malibu residence.
Additionally, Bussey has been detained twice on marital abuse allegations. He apparently filed for bankruptcy in 2012, carrying between $500,000 and $1 million in liabilities. He has also openly declared his support for former U.S president Donald Trump.
Gary Busey’s Acting Career
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Busey is primarily renowned for playing supporting characters, but he gained critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his performance as the main character in the 1978 movie “The Buddy Holly Story.” Since the nomination, Busey has yet to attain a similar level of stardom despite appearing in over 100 films.
His most recent works include “Gary Busey: Pet Judge,” a 2020 comedy court miniseries starring the actor as a judge presiding over pet-related disputes within a court setting. The show lasted only six episodes and has not been renewed for a second season since it stopped airing.
In 2021, he made a cameo in the comedy series “Shameless,” portraying the father of the series’ main protagonist, Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy.)
Busey has three children, William, Alectra, and Luke, whom he shares with Judy Helkenberg, Tracy Hutchinson, and Steffanie Sampson, respectively.
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