Troubled star: Matthew Newton as Terry Clark in Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities. Picture: Channel Nine Source: No Source

Newton and his father, Bert, in 1988. The actor's family has rallied round him / The Daily Telegraph  Source: The Daily Telegraph

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Matthew Newton and Rachael Taylor. Source: The Sunday Telegraph

The son of TV legend Bert Newton was admitted this month to a small private hospital in Melbourne that specialises in drug and alcohol addiction.

"We want what's best for Matthew and we are with him all the way," Bert Newton said last night.

The facility where the actor is being treated runs a highly regarded hospital-based addiction recovery program.

It is believed Matthew decided to seek help for his undisclosed personal issues and, with the support and encouragement of his family and rumoured fiancee, Rachael Taylor, checked into the clinic.

"Matthew is in hospital at the moment, but we do ask people to understand that this is a private time and we won't be discussing any details," close friend Jillian Bowen said.

Matthew Newton was last month busy filming the TV drama Face to Face alongside Vince Colosimo and Sigrid Thornton.

Prior to that he had spent several weeks in Mildura where Taylor had been working on the film Summer Coda.

Newton's love of nightclubs and occasional erratic behaviour have often landed him in the headlines.

Last October a Sydney hotel room in which he was staying was trashed.

In 2007 he pleaded guilty and was convicted of assault for pushing and punching his then girlfriend Brooke Satchwell and was placed on a 12-month good-behaviour bond. The conviction was later quashed.

During the case, evidence was tendered revealing that he had been in the care of a psychiatrist for more than six years.

He was praised for his role as drug king pin Terry Clark in the Channel 9 series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.

His father is to host the Logie Awards on Sunday.