People in the news Feb. 24

Publicist: Charlie Sheen enters rehab

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Charlie Sheen has entered rehab and is taking a break from television's top-rated comedy, "Two and a Half Men," his publicist said Tuesday.

"As a preventative measure, Charlie Sheen has entered a rehabilitation facility," publicist Stan Rosenfield wrote in a four-sentence statement that did not specify why Sheen, 44, was seeking treatment. The statement sought privacy for the embattled actor.

The move comes roughly two months after Sheen was arrested after a fight with his wife at his Aspen, Colo., home. Prosecutors later charged the actor with felony menacing and misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and criminal mischief. The most serious charge carries a maximum three-year prison term.

Sheen's wife, Brooke, is also in rehab seeking treatment for an undisclosed reason, her attorney Yale Galanter said Monday. She is still asking that the charges be dismissed, he said.

Galanter and Rosenfield confirmed Monday that Los Angeles child protective services workers visited the actor and the couple's infant sons over the weekend. Galanter and Rosenfield said it was a routine, previously scheduled visit related to the Aspen court case.

Until Tuesday, Sheen's legal problems hadn't disrupted taping of "Two and a Half Men," which is one of CBS' top shows and television's top-rated comedy.

Last week, 10.6 million people tuned into a rerun of the show, according to ratings released by the Nielsen Co.

CBS spokesman Chris Ender had no immediate comment Tuesday on Sheen entering rehab.

In early January, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler said the network was being sensitive to what it considered a "very personal and private matter for Charlie."

British singer Cheryl Cole splitting from husband

LONDON (AP) - British singer and TV personality Cheryl Cole says she is separating from her husband, football (soccer) player Ashley Cole.

The 26-year-old Girls Aloud pop singer is a judge for the British reality talent show "The X Factor" along with Simon Cowell. She asked the media to respect her privacy "during this difficult time" in a statement issued Tuesday by her publicist.

Ashley Cole plays left back for Chelsea and the England national team.

British media had speculated the marriage was in trouble after tabloids published front-page stories reportedly linking Ashley Cole to other women.

Cheryl Cole's song "Fight for This Love" was nominated for a 2010 Brit award.

It's a girl for 'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi

NEW YORK (AP) - "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi has given birth to a daughter, Krishna Thea Lakshmi.

Publicist Christina Papadopoulos says that the baby was born Saturday, and that both mother and daughter are "well and happy." No other details were provided in an e-mail Monday.

Lakshmi is host of Bravo's "Top Chef." She is the author of "Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day" and "Easy Exotic: A Model's Low-Fat Recipes From Around the World."

'Heroes' actor Adrian Pasdar charged with DUI

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Court records show actor Adrian Pasdar has been charged with drunken driving, and his arraignment is scheduled for later this week.

The 44-year-old actor was arrested Jan. 27 after authorities say they spotted him speeding and veering over two lanes of traffic on a Los Angeles freeway.

He was charged with one count of driving under the influence on Friday. City attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan says Pasdar's arraignment is scheduled for today.

The actor's manager, Will Flaherty, declined comment.

Pasdar plays Nathan Petrelli on NBC's "Heroes." He's married to Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines.

Audrina Patridge's accused stalker arrested

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police on Friday arrested a man prohibited from contacting Audrina Patridge outside the reality star's Los Angeles home.

Zachary Loring, 24, was arrested around 8 a.m. after was seen knocking on the door of "The Hills" star's home, Los Angeles police Sgt. Kyle Kirkman said.

Officers responded after receiving a 911 call and Loring was arrested without incident, Kirkman said. Loring was not carrying a weapon, he said.

Loring was being held Friday afternoon on $160,000 bail on suspicion of stalking and violating a court order. It was his second arrest outside Patridge's home.

Patridge, 24, obtained a three-year restraining order against Loring in September. She testified at a hearing that she was afraid after Loring repeatedly came to her house and gave her disturbing drawings.

"Audrina is safe and unharmed and she is going about her day as usual," her publicist, Jennifer Shoucair Weaver, said in a statement Friday.

Jail records did not indicate whether Loring has an attorney.

Opera star Domingo

to undergo surgery

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Placido Domingo is expected to undergo surgery later this week after the internationally acclaimed tenor suffered abdominal pain during a recent performance in Tokyo.

Publicist Nancy Seltzer said Monday that Domingo will undergo the surgery at a New York hospital. She would only describe the procedure as "medically recommended preventive surgery."

Seltzer says Domingo expects to resume his performance schedule after a recuperation period of about six weeks. He was on a world tour when he was stricken.

The 69-year-old Domingo is general director of both the Los Angeles Opera and the Washington National Opera, as well as one of the world's greatest opera singers.