Homeless man with "golden voice" checking into rehab

Homeless man Ted Williams appears on NBC's ''Today'' show in New York, January 6, 2011.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A homeless man who became a YouTube sensation for his "golden voice" will check into rehab for treatment of alcohol and drug dependency, representatives for the "Dr Phil" show said on Wednesday.

Ted Williams, 53, made the decision to enter a private rehabilitation facility after a discussion with Dr Phil McGraw about a physical altercation with one of his daughters, the show said in a statement.

Williams and his family discussed that incident during a taping of "Dr. Phil" scheduled for broadcast on Thursday, the show said, and family members revealed Williams has been drinking daily.

"If Ted is ever going to get better, he's got to be honest with himself and admit he's addicted to drugs and alcohol," Dr. Phil McGraw, the show's host, said in the statement.

"I've told him it's not going to be easy and it's going to take a lot of hard work. It might be a long journey for him, but this is a step in the right direction," McGraw said.

Los Angeles police have said two people were taken to Hollywood station on Monday night following a disturbance at Williams' hotel, although they have declined to identify them.

Local media and celebrity web sites reported Williams and his daughter were questioned after getting into a loud argument.

Williams, a former radio announcer who became homeless after battling drugs and alcohol, attracted millions of YouTube hits after The Columbus Dispatch newspaper posted a video of him panhandling using radio emcee imitations.

He has since appeared on morning news programs including "The Today Show" to talk about new voice-over job offers with the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team and foodmaker Kraft and his stunning instant rise from begging on the streets.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Jerry Norton)