Jon Cryer has addressed rumours that Charlie Sheen will appear in the Two and a Half Men series finale.
The long-running sitcom will draw to a close tonight in the US, with two-part closer 'Of Course He's Dead'.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other press on set, Cryer - who has played Alan Harper throughout all 12 seasons - insisted that he "would always like to see Charlie back".
"He was a great friend for eight-and-a-half years," the actor said. "He still appears to be going through some serious issues. I always hope for the best for him.
"I honestly don't know if he will be on our last show, but it certainly won't be because people here don't love him."
Sheen played Charlie Harper on the CBS sitcom between 2003 and 2011, though the star was fired from the series - with his character being killed off - following a public feud with series creator Chuck Lorre.
"The worst thing about the period was having a friend who was going through a serious drug issue and feeling helpless," Cryer said. "You sit there and go, oh my God, I hope it doesn't get to the worst possible thing - which is that they are not alive anymore."
Cryer also addressed the subsequent departure of Angus T Jones from the series, admitting that he "did not see that coming".
"The Angus thing threw me," he confessed. "The stuff with Charlie... there was a precedent. But that [situation with Angus] was different."
Ashton Kutcher replaced Sheen in 2011, playing Alan's new housemate Walden Schmidt for the show's final four seasons.
Cryer revealed that he "may well" return to the world of sitcoms once Two and a Half Men has departed our screens.
"I love this work," he enthused. "Performing for an audience... it's impossible to put into words the feeling that you have for it."
Two and a Half Men airs its two-part series finale tonight at 9/8c on CBS in the US. The final season airs on Mondays at 9pm on Comedy Central in the UK.
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Watch a promo for the Two and a Half Men series finale:
