Bill Porter

March 19, 1932 (age 81)

San Francisco, California, Porter

Born with cerebral palsy, Porter came to the public"s attention in 1995, when an Oregon newspaper wrote a series of feature stories about him. He was unable to gain employment due to his cerebral palsy, but refused to go on disability. Porter eventually convinced Watkins Incorporated to give him a door-to-door salesman job, selling its products on a seven-mile route in the Portland area. He eventually became Watkins" top seller, and worked for the company for over forty years. In 1995, the newspaper The Oregonian ran a feature story about Porter. The story of his optimistic determination made him the subject of media attention across the United States. He was featured in Reader"s Digest and on American Broadcasting Company"s 20/20. The 20/20 broadcast received over 2000 phone calls and letters, which was the most ever for a 20/20 story. Porter was the subject of a 2002 made-for-television movie on TNT called Door to Door, featuring William H. Macy, Kyra Sedgwick and Helen Mirren. In 2009 the Japanese Turner Broadcasting System network aired a television movie loosely based on Bill Porter, also called Door To Door. lieutenant starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Rosa Kato as fictional versions of Porter and Brady. Porter died of an infection in Gresham, Oregon, on December 3, 2013, at the age of 81.

Bill Porter

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salesperson

Background

Born in San Francisco, California, Porter moved to Portland, Oregon, with his mother at a young age.

Career

Born with cerebral palsy, Porter came to the public"s attention in 1995, when an Oregon newspaper wrote a series of feature stories about him. He was unable to gain employment due to his cerebral palsy, but refused to go on disability. Porter eventually convinced Watkins Incorporated to give him a door-to-door salesman job, selling its products on a seven-mile route in the Portland area.

He eventually became Watkins" top seller, and worked for the company for over forty years.

In 1995, the newspaper The Oregonian ran a feature story about Porter. The story of his optimistic determination made him the subject of media attention across the United States.

He was featured in Reader"s Digest and on American Broadcasting Company"s 20/20. The 20/20 broadcast received over 2000 phone calls and letters, which was the most ever for a 20/20 story.

Porter was the subject of a 2002 made-for-television movie on TNT called Door to Door, featuring William H. Macy, Kyra Sedgwick and Helen Mirren.

In 2009 the Japanese Turner Broadcasting System network aired a television movie loosely based on Bill Porter, also called Door To Door. lieutenant starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Rosa Kato as fictional versions of Porter and Brady. Porter died of an infection in Gresham, Oregon, on December 3, 2013, at the age of 81.

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Bill Porter

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