Actor David Boreanaz (Bones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) has come forward to publicly admit he had an affair on his wife of eight years, Jaime Bergman.

"Our marriage has been tainted with my infidelities," the actor admits to PEOPLE. "I just want to be open and honest. I was irresponsible."

The woman that he cheated with was attempting to blackmail him for money:

"I was associated with a woman who I was involved with and had a relationship with," he says. "She asked for money. I felt as though I was being blackmailed or there was some sort of extortion."

The actor says he and his wife are working to mend the marriage:

"We're working on our marriage," he says. "We're working on repairing what has been damaged so badly."

What do you think of his coming forward to share this? Does it make it less harmful than other celebrity cheaters who deny it until the mistresses start coming forward? Do you think he could've avoided discussing it at all?

I wish them the best as they try to sort things out during this difficult time.

Photos by WENN