Martin Sheen praises son Charlie's courage

NAPLES, Florida — "The West Wing" actor Martin Sheen says he wishes he had the courage of his son Charlie Sheen, who has revealed he's HIV-positive.

Sheen spoke Tuesday during an event at The Ritz-Carlton resort in Naples, Florida, hours after his son's appearance on NBC's "Today."

According to the Naples Daily News, Sheen said his 50-year-old son had been working up to the announcement for months with his family's encouragement.

Sheen said that as he watched his son reveal "his deepest, darkest secret, I couldn't believe the level of courage I was witnessing, and that it was my son."

READ: Charlie Sheen's statement on being HIV positive

Sheen encouraged support for people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions.

He said he hoped the announcement was "the first day of the rest of Charlie's life as a free man."