Prosecutors declined to press charges against former "Diff'rent Strokes" star Todd Bridges on Tuesday, saying he stabbed a tenant with a kitchen knife in self-defense, authorities said.

Bridges was being held for investigation of attempted murder in the stabbing of David Joseph Kitchen, 23. Bridges, 27, stabbed Kitchen after Kitchen allegedly attacked him with a sword during an argument Sunday, said district attorney's office spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

The former actor was trying to evict Kitchen, who rented a room in Bridges' Sun Valley house, when the fight broke out, Gibbons said. Bridges armed himself with two knives and the pair battled briefly, with Bridges sustaining a slight injury before he parried the sword and stabbed Kitchen in the chest, Gibbons said.

"It appears to be more of a case of self-defense," Gibbons said.