Actor Charlie Sheen to make 'personal announcement' on US TV

Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen is set to make a "revealing personal announcement" on US network television today.

The news has sparked speculation that the former star of sitcom Two And A Half Men will reveal that he is HIV positive.

The Hollywood rumour mill has been full of speculation since gossip site Radar Online carried an article earlier this month about an unnamed actor's HIV-positive status.

The article said "decades of debauchery have finally caught up with one of Hollywood's top megastars. In a bombshell world exclusive, RadarOnline.com can reveal that a bad-boy Tinseltown star has been hiding an explosive secret from the world: He is HIV-positive."

Sheen, 50, who will appear on NBC's Today show at lunchtime UK time, has battled alcohol and drug problems for several years and has in the past boasted of bedding thousands of women.

An announcement on the NBC website said: "In a Today exclusive, Charlie Sheen will make a revealing personal announcement on Tuesday November 17 in a sit-down interview with Matt Lauer."

Sheen has been married three times and has five children.

His first marriage was to Paula Profit, his high school sweetheart, and his second to former Bond girl Denise Richards.

Richards and Sheen have two daughters together, Sam and Lola. The couple finalised their divorce in November 2006.

In 2008, Sheen wed for a third time, to Brooke Mueller, with whom he has twin sons - Bob and Max.

Wedding number four was on the cards when he announced his engagement to adult film star Scottine Ross, but it was called off after a few months.

When asked for comment, Sheen's long term publicist Jeff Ballard said they have parted ways.

"We had a disagreement how to handle a situation and we parted ways.

"We have had a 35-year friendship and I love him. I wish him nothing but the best."