American Beauty actress (and Now and Then, mustn't forget that) Thora Birch has been fired from the off-Broadway revival of Dracula, reportedly because her father/manager, former adult movie star Jack Birch, was threatening other actors.

The producers of the show say they had to fire Ms. Birch after her father threatened an actor who was giving his daughter an on-stage back rub, at the direction of the play's director. Reports the New York Times:

According to [director Paul] Alexander, who was told of the incident afterward by the actor, Mr. Birch asked the actor why he was rubbing Ms. Birch's back during the scene. The actor – who none of the sides would name – said that he had been directed to do so as part of the scene. Mr. Birch objected, saying that the backrub was unnecessary, and told the actor to stop. (It is unusual for anyone other than a production's director to instruct an actor.)

When the actor tried to explain further what he was doing, Mr. Birch said, according to Mr. Alexander: "Listen, man, I'm trying to make this easier on you – don't touch her."

The actor felt threatened, and the decision was made to cut Birch loose. Yikes. The Birches both say that father was just trying to protect daughter, who has had to deal with stalking in the past. Thora said she was "blindsided" by the firing.

Apparently there have been other creepy stage-dad incidents with Mr. Birch, things like peering eerily in through a window during a rehearsal and being present while Thora shot a sex scene for a movie. I wonder if he and Billy Ray know each other? Poor Thora didn't know how good she had it when all her fake dad was trying to do was sleep with Mena Suvari.

[Photo via Getty]