Porter was born in Oakland, California, and attended schools in Los Angeles.
[1] Porter married actor Russell Hayden on July 11, 1946, in Beverly Hills, California.
[2] In 1947 they went on tour across the United States, giving live performances.
[3] They remained married until his death in 1981, but apparently the union was childless.
After Hayden's death in 1981, Porter continued an annual event to raise money for a foundation that he had begun to help children who had serious health problems.