Charlie Sheen Checks Into Rehab After Hospitalization

Jan. 29, 2011 — -- Charlie Sheen voluntarily entered an undisclosed rehabilitation center yesterday after being rushed to a hospital with "severe abdominal pains" Thursday, his publicist said.

The publicist, Stan Rosenfield, told ABC News that Sheen is "most grateful to all who have expressed their concern."

"Mr. Sheen asks that his privacy be respected at this time and that no additional information will be provided."

The latest developments put production of Sheen's hit TV sitcom, "Two and a Half Men," on hold temporarily, network officials said.

"Due to Charlie Sheen's decision to enter a rehabilitation center, CBS, Warner Bros. Television and executive producer Chuck Lorre are placing "Two and a Half Men" on production hiatus," an official statement said. "We are profoundly concerned for his health and well-being, and support his decision."

Sheen, 45, was released from Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles Thursday night after being rushed there around 7 a.m. that morning with his father, Martin Sheen, his mother, Jane Templeton, and ex-wife Denise Richards by his side.

Rosenfield told ABC News that the actor "was having severe abdominal pains and went to the hospital."

According to reports, Sheen's abdominal pains were caused by a hernia following a night of heavy partying.

Those claiming to be at the house with Sheen when paramedics were called told TMZ that Sheen had been drinking and doing drugs.

"Charlie had a wild party for 36 hours ... that involved girls, porn stars, drinking, drugs, the works," said Harvey Levin of TMZ, which carried the report about the possible hernia.

Adult film star Kacey Jordan claimed to witness Sheens' behavior, telling TMZ that she was concerned about her well-being.

"I had to leave because if I didn't leave, I would be in the hospital because I couldn't keep up," Jordan said. "I called my driver, I said, 'You need to get me out of here.'"

The hospital visit and trip to rehab continued a string of bad news for Sheen, who has had to face questions about his career after what police described as an alcohol-fueled rampage at New York's famed Plaza Hotel with adult film star Capri Anderson in October 2010.

Anderson told ABC News' "Good Morning America" exclusively that she was paid thousands of dollars to escort Sheen to dinner and that, later that night, Sheen became violent.

"Things began to very rapidly kind of fall apart and just really get out of hand," Anderson said.

Sheen also has been accused of threatening ex-wife Brooke Mueller with a knife.

Sheen Hospitalized for 'Severe Abdominal Pains'

Howard Bragman, a public relations expert who has represented several celebrities, said Sheen needs help.

"Unless somebody gets intervention, unless somebody acknowledges that they have a problem, unless somebody gets help, it doesn't stop," Bragman said. "These things he's doing, these kind of outbursts, they're not going to stop, so it is going to affect his career. Either Charlie or somebody else is going to get really hurt sometime."

There were signs that network executives are growing increasingly worried about television's highest paid actor.

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler told TV critics in Los Angeles earlier this month that there is "a high level of concern. How could we not? This man is a father. He's got children. He has a family. So obviously, there's concern on a personal level. But you can't look at it simplistically. Charlie is professional. He comes to work. He does his job extremely well. It's very complicated."

"CBS is in a really awkward position," Bragman said, "because at this point, no matter how compassionate they are, it's an employment situation. As long as Charlie shows up for work, does his job and is ready for work, it's very hard for them to intervene."

Even Sheen's "Two and a Half Men" co-star, Jon Cryer, said that he never knows what to expect from Sheen.

"It's always a little weird because, like, the stuff you hear is just unbelievable," Cryer told talk show host Conan O'Brien on Wednesday. "I mean ... I'm checking TMZ, as I do every day, to know if I have to go to work at all."