Charlie Sheen enters rehab; CBS puts his show on hold

Charlie Sheen has voluntarily entered a rehabilitation center, a decision that is putting his top-rated CBS sitcom on production hiatus.

Publicist Stan Rosenfield said yesterday that the star of CBS' "Two and a Half Men" was entering an undisclosed facility and is grateful to all who have expressed their concern for him.

No additional information, including the name or location of the rehab center, was provided.

CBS, production company Warner Bros. Television and executive producer Chuck Lorre said in a statement that Sheen's decision to seek rehab has prompted a halt on production of "Two and a Half Men."

Earlier yesterday, Rosenfield said that Sheen left a Los Angeles hospital Thursday night. Sheen had been taken to the hospital earlier in the day complaining of severe stomach pains. Rosenfield said the actor has a history of hernia problems.

The website TMZ reported, however, that the actor had a "briefcase full of cocaine" delivered to his home - and was allegedly using the drug during a 36-hour bender before the hospitalization - his third in as many months.

Two weeks ago, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said the network has a "high level of concern" about its hard-partying star.

This week, sources told the Hollywood Reporter that execs working with "Two and a Half Men" had been waiting for a trigger to get the actor to seek professional help.

With Thursday's events, they apparently got their pivotal incident to force the rehab issue, something to which Sheen had been resistant.

"They are all afraid Charlie will end up dead," one talent rep close to the show told The Hollywood Reporter. "It is literally day by day."

Sheen's partying incidents have been well-chronicled on the gossip websites.

But holding the studio back from truly forcing help had been Sheen's ability to do his job.

"Charlie has been partying pretty hard but he's showed up and done his job," said one source. "Everyone likes him. He's professional."