"Crash" director Paul Haggis has severed his ties with the Church of Scientology, in part because of what he alleged as the organization's stance against gay marriage.

Haggis wrote a letter addressed to Tommy Davis, the head of Scientology's Celebrity Centre. In it, Haggis said he was disappointed by the church's tacit denial of gay rights in the debate over California's gay marriage ban.

The 56-year-old Haggis, who won an Oscar in 2005 for co-writing "Crash," said he was quitting the church after 35 years.

The letter was published in a blog and has since been widely circulated online.

Ziggy Kozlowski, a publicist for Haggis, said the letter was intended to remain private.

Davis said Haggis' complaints were based on misunderstandings. He strenuously disagreed with Haggis' claim that the Church of Scientology is in any way anti-gay.

Haggis also said he was "shocked" that the Church of Scientology was publicly denying that it adheres to a policy of severing ties with a friend or family member who's antagonistic toward Scientology. Haggis said that his wife, Deborah Rennard, was given precisely those orders and didn't speak to her parents for more than a year.

The Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, founded in 1954 by the late science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, claims to have 10 million members in 165 nations.

Springsteen kin found dead

Bruce Springsteen's cousin and assistant road manager was found dead in Kansas City's Intercontinental Hotel Monday, not long before Springsteen and his band were to take to the stage.

"Lenny Sullivan, Bruce's cousin and the assistant road manager of the E Street Band for the last 10 years, passed away today at the age of 36," a statement on Springsteen's Web site read.

The death caused the cancellation of the show that night in Kansas City, Mo.

Kansas City police said that the death wasn't considered suspicious.

Springsteen's next scheduled appearance is at New York's Madison Square Garden Thursday for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert.

Oprah to interview Swayze's wife

Less than two months after the death of her husband Patrick Swayze, Lisa Niemi will open up to Oprah Winfrey

in her first one-on-one interview since his death, reports people.com.

Swayze, 57, died Sept. 14 after a protracted battle with pancreatic cancer.

Niemi will appear on Friday's episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show." It will air at 4 p.m. on WMC-TV Channel 5.

-- From Our Press Services

Today's birthdays

Actress Joan Plowright, 80; musician Charlie Daniels, 73; actress Jane Alexander, 70; actor Dennis Franz ("NYPD Blue"), 65; actor-comedian Andy Richter, 43; actress Julia Roberts, 42; fiddler Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown), 41; singer Ben Harper, 40; country singer Brad Paisley, 37; actor Joaquin Phoenix, 35; singer Justin Guarini, 31.