I keep explaining this podcast to other people and I was like oh it's like serial

but about something really insignificant. My name is Connor Ratliff. I'm an actor and

comedian you probably have never heard of me but there's a chance you might have seen me

in various TV shows or movies you may have watched over the past few years.

Shows like the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, or Orange is the New Black, or Mike Biriglia's feature film, Don't Think Twice.

If you've been to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City, there's a decent chance you might have seen me on stage there.

Or maybe you're hearing my voice for the first time right now.

Hello.

Two decades ago, I was fired by Tom Hanks.

I had been cast in the HBO Miniseries Band of Brothers in a very small speaking role, and then, a day

before I was supposed to film my scenes, I was fired.

The reason, I was told at the time, Tom Hanks has seen your audition tape and he's having second thoughts.

He thinks you have dead eyes.

And that's the name of my new podcast.

Dead Eyes.

Oh my God.

What could be more perfect story of disappointment and rejection?

It's an investigative series, a completely true story, and a kind of show business mystery exploring

a, must be said, deeply unimportant question that has haunted me for nearly 20 years.

Why did Tom Hanks fire me?

And here's what I've discovered.

Everyone has a dead-eyes story,

...