Oscar winner Kathy Bates is to play Charlie Sheen's ghost on TV sitcom Two And A Half Men.

The actress will appear to Jon Cryer's character Alan as Charlie Harper in a dream sequence on an episode to air on April 30th.

Sheen played Harper until he was fired after a bust-up with producers last year. He was replaced on the show by Ashton Kutcher.

The character was killed off when he was hit by a train in Paris and his funeral was held in the premiere of the ninth season.