Bill Porter (salesman)
Encyclopedia
Bill Porter is an American
salesman for the Watkins Company. 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.
Born in San Francisco, California
, Porter moved to Portland, Oregon
, with his mother at a young age. 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 the top seller for the company.
In 1995 The Oregonian
ran a feature story about Porter in its newspaper
. 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 ABC's 20/20, and was the subject of a 2002 made-for-TV movie on TNT
called Door to Door
, featuring William H. Macy
, Kyra Sedgwick
and Helen Mirren
. In 2009 the Japanese TBS
network aired a TV-movie loosely based on Bill Porter, also called Door To Door. It starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Rosa Kato
as fictional versions of Porter and Brady.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
salesman for the Watkins Company. Born with cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, Porter came to the public's attention in 1995, when an Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
wrote a series of feature stories about him.
Born in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Porter moved to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, with his mother at a young age. He was unable to gain employment due to his cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, but refused to go on disability. Porter eventually convinced Watkins Incorporated
Watkins Incorporated
Watkins Incorporated is a manufacturer of health remedies, baking products, and other household items. The entire catalog includes 400 products. It is based in Winona, Minnesota, and largely relies on an independent sales force of 25,000 people to distribute its products...
to give him a door-to-door salesman job, selling its products on a seven-mile route in the Portland area. He eventually became the top seller for the company.
In 1995 The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
ran a feature story about Porter in its newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. The story of his optimistic determination made him the subject of media attention across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was featured in Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
and on ABC's 20/20, and was the subject of a 2002 made-for-TV movie on TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
called Door to Door
Door to Door (film)
Door to Door was a 2002 TV movie about Bill Porter , a door-to-door salesman with cerebral palsy. The film was produced for the TNT cable network and was nominated for twelve Emmy Awards, winning six...
, featuring William H. Macy
William H. Macy
William Hall Macy, Jr. is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though...
, Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Minturn Sedgwick is an American actress.Sedgwick is best known for her starring role as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson on the TNT crime drama The Closer. Sedgwick's role in the series won her a Golden Globe Award in 2007 and an Emmy Award in 2010...
and Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren
Dame Helen Mirren, DBE is an English actor. She has won an Academy Award for Best Actress, four SAG Awards, four BAFTAs, three Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, and two Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Awards.-Early life and family:...
. In 2009 the Japanese TBS
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
network aired a TV-movie loosely based on Bill Porter, also called Door To Door. It starred Ninomiya Kazunari and Rosa Kato
Rosa Kato
is a Japanese actress and commercial model.-Career:From April 2004 to March 2005, Kato was a regular guest student on Italian Conversation, a 25-minute NHK TV program for beginners of Italian....
as fictional versions of Porter and Brady.