Los Angeles:
Charlie Sheen was taking too much cocaine to work when filming Two and a Half Men.
Production on the sitcom was stopped after 16 episodes of its eighth series earlier this year because of the actor's erratic behaviour, and the series' co-creator, Chuck Lorre, said he had no choice but to take drastic action out of concern for the star.
He told TV Guide magazine: "You can't do that much cocaine and work. I didn't want to be writing a sitcom while my friend died. Or worse, hurt someone else.
"We couldn't be complacent. There was a tragedy unfolding right in front of us. There was violence and blackouts. On a certain level, if you're looking the other way, you're responsible.
"It was falling apart. It was heartbreaking to be around here then."
Charlie left the show in February, launching a number of rants against Chuck, although he has now apologised, and been replaced on the show by Ashton Kutcher.
Meanwhile, Charlie's ex-wife, Brooke Mueller - with whom he has two-year-old twin sons Bob and Max - is entering a programme of outpatient rehab, which includes daily drug testing and round-the-clock private supervision, following her arrest by police for cocaine possession in Colorado earlier this month.
A statement from her publicist said: "Recognising past attempts at treatment have not been successful, Brooke has decided to take a different approach to deal with her addiction.
"Brooke will be participating in a programme during the day, and will be under expert supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Brooke will retain custody of Bob and Max, keeping them at her home along with their nanny while she undergoes treatment.
Production on the sitcom was stopped after 16 episodes of its eighth series earlier this year because of the actor's erratic behaviour, and the series' co-creator, Chuck Lorre, said he had no choice but to take drastic action out of concern for the star.
He told TV Guide magazine: "You can't do that much cocaine and work. I didn't want to be writing a sitcom while my friend died. Or worse, hurt someone else.
"We couldn't be complacent. There was a tragedy unfolding right in front of us. There was violence and blackouts. On a certain level, if you're looking the other way, you're responsible.
"It was falling apart. It was heartbreaking to be around here then."
Charlie left the show in February, launching a number of rants against Chuck, although he has now apologised, and been replaced on the show by Ashton Kutcher.
Meanwhile, Charlie's ex-wife, Brooke Mueller - with whom he has two-year-old twin sons Bob and Max - is entering a programme of outpatient rehab, which includes daily drug testing and round-the-clock private supervision, following her arrest by police for cocaine possession in Colorado earlier this month.
A statement from her publicist said: "Recognising past attempts at treatment have not been successful, Brooke has decided to take a different approach to deal with her addiction.
"Brooke will be participating in a programme during the day, and will be under expert supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
Brooke will retain custody of Bob and Max, keeping them at her home along with their nanny while she undergoes treatment.
