Charlie Sheen's former assistant Rick Calamaro has been found dead.

The man had reportedly been in and out of the actor's life for many years and some people had alleged he was partly responsible for Charlie's drug binge last year, according to TMZ.

Law enforcement officers told the site that Calamaro was found deceased in his Los Angeles apartment yesterday although it looks like he was dead for several days.

Sources say that police found "numerous pain medications and an open bottle of alcohol."

Rick had worked as a club promoter and was on the trip to New York last year with Charlie when the former Two and a Half Men star trashed his room at The Plaza Hotel.

Calamaro's cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Meanwhile, Charlie has been enjoying renewed success with the positive reception of his new show Anger Management which debuted last week to sterling ratings.