Meet Actor / Comedian Conner Radliff!
Do you know Conner? He’s been in some great TV shows and movies in this 20+ year career, but he’s now an acclaimed Podcast Host – all because he was fired from this HBO mini-series!
He Was Fired For Having “Dead Eyes!”
In the year 2000, aspiring Actor Conner Ratliff was cast in HBO’s critically-acclaimed TV mini-series “Band Of Brothers.”
Then Tom Hanks fired him for having “dead eyes!”
From this, a terrifically insightful, candid, and hilariously funny podcast was born!
Twenty years later, Ratliff launched a podcast that begins with the question: why did Tom Hanks think he had “dead eyes”?
If you think it’s a “one note” story, you are wrong – it’s so terrific that the podcast has now gone three seasons!
Among the guests on the show are Actors Seth Rogan and Ron Livingston – one of whom was actually in the scene that Conner got fired from!
Seth takes part after hearing the podcast and sending Ratliff a tweet telling him how much he enjoyed the show – and Livingston did the same, offering to come on since he was in the scene that Radliff was fired from!
Rogan tells a painfully hilarious story of a very high profile firing he endured as well!
The Actor/ Comedian also enlights Singer Aimee Mann – he explains how her music helped him handle the devastating disappointment of his firing!
Jon Hamm is an early guest as well and reveals a wily connection to Conner, as well as stories of his own about being fired!
So, where does the show go? Well, it goes in so many entertaining directions, I won’t give away the journey except to say that once Tom’s son Colin Hanks takes part, you are literally rooting for Conner to have his mystery solved!
And He Does – Because “Nicest Man In Hollywood” Tom Hanks Came On The Podcast!
I was thrilled to hear that Tom Hanks agreed to come onto season 3 of the podcast, which is underway now!
The episode just premiered this week, but PLEASE start from season one – it’s wildly entertaining, and as someone who has worked in the entertainment industry my entire career, it so illuminating about what it takes to survive in it!
Bravo to Conner for an entertaining, candid and enlightening podcast – and bravo to Tom Hanks for appearing on the podcast and talking for over an hour!
I’m a huge fan of the Actor, and can’t wait for his summer musical all about Elvis Presley!
Click here for the trailer!
I wonder if we’ll see “the King” in Seattle – that’s right, Elvis made a movie in my hometown!
That’s right: Elvis was “Singing and Swinging!”
“It Happened At The World’s Fair” captured Seattle at a groundbreaking time – click here to see why:
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Categories: Art, Books / Media, Cult Movies, Memoirs, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities, TV Show
johnrieber 
Hi John, dead eyes is an interesting reason to be fired from a movie. It seems like Conner has made good on his unfortunate experience so good for him.
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Interesting post, John. I will check it out. Can’t wait for the Elvis movie, too!
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I want to hear that podcast!
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I definitely will listen to the podcast from beginning to now, it sounds like something I would love and I love that he created a series out of this.
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What a great story, or I should say a great ending to a story. I love Tom Hanks!
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Yes, the entire podcast is terrific, and what a coup to have him come and spend so much time with him! Thanks for commenting, much appreciated!
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Yes, indeed! Best to you, John.
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Band ofBbrothers launched quite a few careers. Being fired from it must have hurt!
I have the whole thing on DVD, and think it is excellent.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sounds like a great podcast and plan to check it out!
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The headlines about Tom Hanks taking part are everywhere now but I really encourage you to start at the beginning…Jon Hamm is on episode two and he’s hilarious with his stories of worst job experiences…thanks for commenting, great to hear from you!
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well thanks again for sharing this – lok forward to it – and I did not know Tom Hanks was the nicest guy in Hollywood – what a cool title to have
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I have interviewed him several times and it is true….one of the best!
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wow – how cool that you had the chance to interview him even once – let alone several times – 🙂
and for some reason, the thing that sticks out to me with Tom Hanks is I wonder how his old typewriter collection is doing? Isn’t that funny? I heard he collected them and just wonder where and how he stores them?
I also think of Tom Hanks because early days of pandemic he was the first big celeb I heard that had COVID and remember him talking from his very “laid back” kitchen area…..
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