I am HIV positive: Charlie Sheen

In an interview, the 50-year-old actor admitted that he was diagnosed with the HIV virus roughly four years ago

"Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen has revealed that he is HIV positive.

The 50-year-old actor said he was diagnosed with the HIV virus that causes AIDS roughly four years ago.

"I am here to admit that I am in fact HIV positive," Sheen said in interview with NBC's Today show.

"It's a hard three letters to absorb. It's a turning point in one's life," said the actor, who has had a troubled history with drug addiction, pornography and prostitutes.

The actor said he decided to come out clean about his diagnosis to put a stop "to this barrage of attacks and sub-truths and very harmful and mercurial stories that are about me that threaten the health of so many others."

Once the highest paid TV actor, Sheen was fired from "Two and a Half" men in 2011 following an epic meltdown where he called the show's producer "a contaminated little maggot".

On the show, Sheen played a womanising jingle writer, who moves in with his brother and nephew, a storyline that was somewhat similar to the actor's real life as he became a tabloid darling with his wild antics.

Sheen has two children each with former wives, Denise Richards and Brooke Mueller.