Kim Porter

Kim Porter
Porter in 2018
Born
Kimberly Antwinette Porter

(1970-12-15)December 15, 1970
Columbus, Georgia, U.S.
DiedNovember 15, 2018(2018-11-15) (aged 47)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Model
  • actress
  • singer
Years active1988–2018
Children4, including Quincy Brown

Kimberly Antwinette Porter (December 15, 1970 – November 15, 2018) was an American model and actress.[1]

Career

Porter was from Columbus, Georgia.[2] She began modeling as a teenager[3] and was also a debutante. In 1988, she graduated from Columbus High School and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to further her modeling career.[4] She appeared in films and TV series such as: The Brothers (2001), Wicked Wicked Games (2006–2007),[5] The System Within (2006),[6] Single Ladies (2011),[7] and Mama, I Want to Sing! (2012).[8] Porter appeared in a number of music videos,[9] and she worked as a receptionist at Uptown Records, after being hired by founder Andre Harrell.[10]

Porter was one of the founders of Three Brown Girls, a lifestyle planning company in Atlanta, alongside college friends Nicole Cooke-Johnson and Eboni Elektra.[5][11][12] Porter and the company helped start singer Janelle Monáe's career in the music industry, after inviting her to an open mic night and introducing her to industry contacts. Monáe said that she was "forever indebted" to Porter for believing in her.[13]

Personal life

Porter had a son, Quincy Brown (born 1991), with singer Al B. Sure! to whom she was married (according to a 2020 interview with Al. B Sure! on Fox Soul network) from 1989 until either late 1990 or 1991. From 1994 until 2007, Porter had an on-and-off relationship with rapper and record executive Sean Combs. They had a son, Christian, and twin daughters, Jessie and D'lila.[14][15]

Death

Porter died on November 15, 2018, in Toluca Lake, California of lobar pneumonia after several days of "flu-like symptoms".[16][17] Her cause of death was listed as "deferred" on her death certificate, and after an autopsy was completed on November 16, 2018, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed on January 25, 2019 that her death was a result of lobar pneumonia.[17] Her funeral at Cascade Hills Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, was attended by hundreds of mourners, including Sean Combs.[18] Her remains were interred at Evergreen Memorial Park in Columbus, Georgia.[19] In 2023, Combs included a tribute song to Porter on his album The Love Album: Off the Grid, entitled "Kim Porter", featuring Babyface and John Legend.[20]

Filmography

Year(s) Title Role Notes
1989 "Smooth Operator" — Music video by Big Daddy Kane; uncredited
1994 "Nuttin' but Love" — Music video by Heavy D & the Boyz
2001 The Brothers Sandra the Temp Feature film
2006–2007 Wicked Wicked Games Violet Walker TV series; 5 episodes
2006 The System Within Hayes' #2 Girl Feature film
2011 Single Ladies Jasmine TV series; 1 episode
2011 Mama, I Want to Sing! Tara Feature film

References

  1. ^ Parker, Ryan (November 15, 2018). "Kim Porter, Model and Actress, Dies at 47". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Parker, Najja (November 24, 2018). "Kim Porter to be buried in her Columbus, Georgia, hometown". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Sumbry, Josiah (January 7, 1987). "Columbus Girl 'Model of the South'". Ledger-Enquirer. p. B3. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Sippell, Margeaux (November 15, 2018). "Model and Actress Kim Porter Found Dead at 47". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Christian, Margena A. (May 12, 2008). "Kim Porter 'Keeps Pushing' While Balancing Motherhood and Career". Jet. 113 (18): 56–60. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Lentz III, Harris M. (2019). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. McFarland. p. 319.
  7. ^ Penn, Charli (October 28, 2020). "VH1's 'Single Ladies' Premiere Recap: Hello Drama". Essence. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Combs, Porter break up again". Ledger-Enquirer. July 11, 2007. p. 2. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  9. ^ "Kim Porter: An Angel in Disguise". The Source. March 25, 2019. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  10. ^ Amber, Jeannine (2006). "No Ordinary Love: Sean "Diddy" Combs and Kim Porter". Essence. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Penrice, Ronda Racha (January 12, 2006). "Atlanta celebrities end the year on a giving note". Atlanta Voice. p. 6. Retrieved November 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  12. ^ Kimble, Melissa (November 21, 2018). "Kim Porter Shouldn't Be Remembered Just For Diddy, But For Her Impact On Women In Hip-Hop". Bustle. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Henderson, Cydney (November 18, 2018). "Al B. Sure, son Quincy, celebs react to death of model Kim Porter, Diddy's ex-girlfriend". USA Today. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  14. ^ "Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs Reaches Child Support Settlement with Model Kim Porter". Jet. 101 (14): 32–33. March 25, 2002. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Diddy mourns for Kim Porter, says 'more than soul mates'". Associated Press News. November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Lamarre, Carl (January 25, 2019). "Kim Porter's Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Rogo, Paula (October 23, 2020). "Kim Porter's Cause of Death Revealed". Essence. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  18. ^ "Hundreds gather for funeral of well known Columbus native Kim Porter". www.wtvm.com. June 17, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  19. ^ "Kim Porter Memorial | Columbus, GA". Evergreen Memorial Park. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Garcia, Thania (September 15, 2023). "Diddy's 'The Love Album: Off The Grid': A Song by Song Guide to Every Featured Artist". Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2023.