Actor Gary Dourdan, best known as a forensics investigator on the hit TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, was charged on Wednesday with possession of heroin, cocaine and ecstasy.

The charges stem from the 41-year-actor's April 28 arrest in the desert resort city of Palm Springs, after police found him asleep in the driver's seat of a car shortly before dawn.

The car was parked on the wrong side of the road with the interior light left on. Police said Dourdan appeared disoriented and "possibly under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs" when approached by an officer.

A search of the car turned up cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and various prescription drugs, as well as drug paraphernalia.

He was booked for possession of narcotics and dangerous drugs and jailed for about five hours, then released on $US5,000 bail, police said.

Dourdan was charged with one count each of possessing heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. A Riverside County District Attorney's spokeswoman said that if convicted he would likely face probation and be sent to a drug diversion program.

He is due in court for an arraignment on May 28.

A native of Philadelphia, Dourdan got his start on the TV sitcom A Different World and later appeared on the cable network series Soul Food.

He also starred in the 1997 film Alien: Resurrection but is best known for his role as forensics investigator Warrick Brown on CSI, which has ranked as the most watched drama on US television for much of its run.