Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has acknowledged he fathered a child with a member of his household staff more than 10 years ago.
"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Mr Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
Earlier this month the former actor and his wife Maria Shriver said they were separating after 25 years of marriage.
Ms Shriver moved out of their Los Angeles mansion earlier in the year.
In his statement, Mr Schwarzenegger said: "I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family."
He and Ms Shriver have four children together between the ages of 14 and 21.
The 63-year-old former governor has maintained a high public profile and worked to revive his movie career since finishing a seven-year run as California governor in January.
'Truly sorry'
The name of the former member of Mr Schwarzenegger's household staff with whom he fathered the child has not been made public. But reports said she worked for the family for 20 years and retired in January.
