Actor. He is best remembered for his recurring portrayal of the devoted butler Ravenswood on the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies". Born unto a family of wealth and position, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he emigrated to the United States in 1930 to begin a career in American theatre. After appearing in "Mr. Pim Passes By," following good reviews, he transferred to New York City, New York, where he became a prominent leading man appearing in such stage productions as "Victoria Regina," "New York to Cherbourg," "Bachelor Born," "Oscar Wilde," and "The Rats of Norway." After being discovered by film director Arthur Lubin during a dinner party at the prestigious Sardis Restaurant, he was so impressed by his stealth, mature appearance, and articulate voice, that he arranged for him to begin a career in the film industry beginning with him being under his supervision in a minor role in "Eagle Squadron" (1942). From there, he would go on to succeed as a versatile character actor appearing in over 95 features, often typecast as husbands, fathers, doctors, jurors, lawyers, politicians, curmudgeons, servants, soldiers, clergymen, retail clerks, neighbors, policemen, waiters, doormen, chauffeurs, detectives, reporters, photographers, businessmen, landlords, educators, tailors, barbers, white-collared workers, attendants, foreigners, eccentrics, profiteers, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Nightmare" (1942), "Random Harvest" (1942), "Northern Pursuit" (1943), "Jane Eyre" (1943), "The White Cliffs of Dover" (1944), "National Velvet" (1944), "Scarlet Street" (1945), "Gunman's Code" (1946), "Forever Amber" (1947), "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" (1948), "Thunder on the Hill" (1951), "Million Dollar Mermaid" (1952), "The Girls of Pleasure Island" (1953), "So This is Paris" (1954), "The Virgin Queen" (1955), "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956), "Top Secret Affair" (1957), "Pirates of Tortuga" (1961), "3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt" (1964), "Do Not Disturb" (1965), "Assault on a Queen" (1966), "Doctor Dolittle" (1967), "Darling Lili" (1970), "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971), and "Frasier, the Sensuous Lion" (1973). During the advent of television, he became a familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Chevron Theatre," "Mark Saber," "Cavalcade of America," "The Colgate Comedy Hour," "Schlitz Playhouse," "Lux Video Theatre," "It's a Great Life," "Soldiers of Fortune," "Studio 57," "The Joseph Cotten Show," "General Electric Theatre," "Father Knows Best," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Adventures in Paradise," "Sea Hunt," "Hong Kong," "One Step Beyond," "The Gale Storm Show," "Pete and Gladys," "Lock Up," "Profiles in Courage," "The Barbara Stanwyck Show," "The Wild Wild West," "Jericho," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," and "Nancy." During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had duel citizen between the United States and England, was an honorary member of Actors Equity, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the American Lung Association, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and was one on the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild. In 1977, Porter, who never married nor had any children, retired from acting and spent the final years of his life painting in oils, journaling, dividing time between his homes in Cornwall, England, and Brentwood, California, and was a generous benefactor for several schools, hospitals, and state parks, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.