Dwight David Porter
1948 - 2009 (Age 60) 
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Person ID: I6891 | Tree: FunknSmart | Last Modified: 22 Dec 2020
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Name Dwight David Porter [1, 2] Born 28 Nov 1948 Indiana 
[1, 2] Gender Male Died 10 Feb 2009 California, USA [2] Family
B.E. Nix -
Notes
- He was a 1967 graduate of Anderson High School, a 1971 cum laude graduate of Ball State University, and a 1989 graduate of the University of West Los Angeles, with a Juris Doctorate degree. While at the University of West Los Angeles, he was consistently on the deans' list, and served as editor of the Law Review. He worked for many years as a staff attorney for State Compensation Insurance Fund, an agency which administers worker's compensation for the state of California, until his retirement in 2006.
During his career, he also taught law at Watterson College in Pasadena, California; at Barcley College in Lawndale, California; and the Peoples' College of Law, in Los Angeles. Following retirement, David continued to teach, and to practice law part time as a contract attorney.
Prior to obtaining his law degree, David worked in the entertainment industry, in a variety of positions. He had a passion for magic and clowns, and continued to perform in this capacity even while employed as an attorney. He was a member in good standing of the Magic Castle, a world-famous private club for magicians in Los Angeles. He is a former member of the Second City traveling improv troupe of Chicago; and a founding member of Class Clowns, an improv comedy group based in Los Angeles.
When he first arrived in Hollywood, David acted under the stage name "D.C. Hackenbush." Hackenbush, I'm guessing, was a tribute to the Groucho Marx character "Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush," from the movie "A Day At The Races." D was a reference to David; and C was a reference to W.C. Fields. Only David knew for sure. He insisted on being called "D.C." for a while.
He once appeared on "The Dating Game," television show, giving his name as Hackenbush and occupation as a "manure salesman," from Muncie, Indiana. He didn't get the date.
During the 1980's, David continued to pursue an entertainment career, but also started going to law school, as a fallback position. To pay the rent, he worked as a security guard for Twentieth Century Fox, on the sets of TV programs such as "L.A. Law," and "The Fall Guy." Actress Heather Thomas from "The Fall Guy" personally congratulated David on his law studies with a hand-signed photo that read: "Dave! You're my favorite babysitter! Good luck in law school. Love + Laughs, Heather Thomas."
David elected to be cremated. A wake was held on Thursday, February 12, at the world-famous Magic Castle of Hollywood, with 70-80 people attending.
There is a memorial website run by his best friend until February 2011: http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/DavidPorter/MemorialSite.aspx
- He was a 1967 graduate of Anderson High School, a 1971 cum laude graduate of Ball State University, and a 1989 graduate of the University of West Los Angeles, with a Juris Doctorate degree. While at the University of West Los Angeles, he was consistently on the deans' list, and served as editor of the Law Review. He worked for many years as a staff attorney for State Compensation Insurance Fund, an agency which administers worker's compensation for the state of California, until his retirement in 2006.
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Source Citations
- [S39] Indiana, Marriage Certificates, 1958-2005, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2016;), Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Series Number: 89-204; Year: 1971 Aug; Certificate Range: 030458 - 033137.
- [S11] Social Security Death Index, Ancestry.com, (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.Original data - Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security D;), Issue State: Indiana; Issue Date: 1964.
- [S39] Indiana, Marriage Certificates, 1958-2005, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2016;), Indiana Archives and Records Administration; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Series Number: 89-204; Year: 1971 Aug; Certificate Range: 030458 - 033137.