# What was Lucas thinking with the Porkins character in Star Wars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 16, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349 "2009-09-16T19:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/21 "2009-09-16T20:51:28Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Why do you care so much about that chin strap ? Hell, why would anyone bother to put on an open face helmet in space is beyond me, much less strap it. If your cockpit gets dinged you’re gonna suffocate in minutes anyway, so why bother ? Because it reflects on the character. When an overweight guy named Porkins goes into combat without attaching his strap, I’m thinking “what’s that fat, lazy slob doing going on a combat mission.” The other pilots are your typical in shape fly boys and they all attached their strap. So here is the one overweight guy. Not only is he overweight, but his name is Porkins. And not only is he overweight and named Porkins, he’s the only one who didn’t attach his strap. Stuff like that doesn’t happen in the movies by accident. This is the image I have of Porkins: [http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/kfcporkins.jpg](http://www.goingfaster.com/angst/kfcporkins.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/22 "2009-09-16T21:16:16Z")
Sort of like Chunk from The Goonies… I’m surprised Lucas didn’t have Porkins drop a candy bar in the cockpit during the trench run. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/23 "2009-09-16T21:24:24Z")
I read an interview with William Hootkins (the actor who played Porkins), some years ago (he died in 2005), in which he was recalling filming “Star Wars”. One specific thing I recall is that the orange flight suit costumes that they had were “one size fits all.” Not surprisingly, they didn’t fit _him_; the costumer split Hootkins’ flight suit up the back so that he could fit in it. As a result, he had to be certain not to slump too far forward when he was blowing up, so that the camera didn’t catch the T-shirt he was wearing under the orange suit. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/24 "2009-09-16T21:53:36Z")
> [@Jorge\_Burrito](#): > > Put me in the category of call sign/nickname. At least for me and my friends many of the nicknames we have for each other are not exactly flattering. Nope, the extended universe even expands on it. He is Jek Porkins. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/25 "2009-09-16T22:50:39Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > When an overweight guy named Porkins goes into combat without attaching his strap, I’m thinking “what’s that fat, lazy slob doing going on a combat mission.” See, I thought “boy I hope they blow up the Death Star.” ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/26 "2009-09-16T22:52:10Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > See, I thought “boy I hope they blow up the Death Star.” Clearly you’re not a real fan. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/27 "2009-09-16T22:58:24Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Obligatory: > > [How Not To Fly an X-wing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFPI54fOWoo) Best laugh of my day. Thanks, **Larry**. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/28 "2009-09-16T23:23:48Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Why do you care so much about that chin strap ? Hell, why would anyone bother to put on an open face helmet in space is beyond me, much less strap it. If your cockpit gets dinged you’re gonna suffocate in minutes anyway, so why bother ? > > Besides, if I recall properly, isn’t leaving one’s helmet unstrapped standard procedure in combat ? Or maybe that’s just infantry ? Oddly enough, this isn’t terribly implausible. Apparently they encountered turbulence when going through atmosphere, and since The Force alone knows what you might encounter in any given battle, it’s not a bad idea to protect your noggin from getting slammed around. Even just exhaust fumes from a cap ship that size could do. Assuming they have exhaust fumes. Second, apprently there were explosions in space which could knock ships about. We know at least some cap ship guns fired extremely destructive shells (turbolaser or not), and while the shockwave would be small (limited to the immediate matter of the shell) a helment could keep you from breaking your skull open. After all, if you lost consciousness you are poretty much dead, so most competent militaries will enforce that kind of uniform. Also, other sources make it clear that fighters could be non-fatally damaged. Some pilots wore spacesuits they could eject in for hopeful rescue. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/29 "2009-09-16T23:32:52Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > BTW , I am pretty amazed it took 4 whole minutes before Jar Jar was mentioned in this thread. Normally he comes up quicker than that. As do salmonella-laced clams. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/30 "2009-09-17T00:47:28Z")
All these years, I thought it was “Forkins”. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/31 "2009-09-17T01:35:41Z")
"Stay on target… STAY ON TARGET…" Lole. Porkins is one of the all-time best “throwaway” characters of film. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/32 "2009-09-17T04:18:19Z")
“Cover Me, Porkins: A Life In Film”. I would have bought it if he’d written it. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/33 "2009-09-17T05:24:47Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Only to Top Men. > > Top. Men. > > 🆒 I think Lucas cast him in _Raiders_ to make up for the rather indelicate Porkins thing. The character of Jek Porkins was written and named before being cast, I know that much. I read an interview with the actor in _Insider_ magazine. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/34 "2009-09-17T15:37:08Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > "Stay on target… > > STAY ON TARGET…" > > Lole. Porkins is one of the all-time best “throwaway” characters of film. That wasn’t Porkins. Biggs had gotten Porkins killed minutes before that. “Stay on Target” was Gold 5. I’m sure he’s got a name and rich and extensive [del]fanwank[/del] backstory, but I don’t have the energy to search for it. He’s a dick anyway - he tells Gold Leader to stay on target, but when Gold Leader gets killed, he bugs out of the trench instead of trying to complete the mission. ---
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/35 "2009-09-17T15:53:46Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > That wasn’t Porkins. Biggs had gotten Porkins killed minutes before that. “Stay on Target” was Gold 5. I’m sure he’s got a name and rich and extensive [del]fanwank[/del] backstory, but I don’t have the energy to search for it. He’s a dick anyway - he tells Gold Leader to stay on target, but when Gold Leader gets killed, he bugs out of the trench instead of trying to complete the mission. He’s not carrying torpedos, and the shaft is ray shielded. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/36 "2009-09-17T15:56:56Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > That wasn’t Porkins. Biggs had gotten Porkins killed minutes before that. “Stay on Target” was Gold 5. I’m sure he’s got a name and rich and extensive [del]fanwank[/del] backstory, but I don’t have the energy to search for it. [Here it is.](http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Davish_Krail) Not quite “rich and extensive”, but it’s there. > [@](#): > > He’s a dick anyway - he tells Gold Leader to stay on target, but when Gold Leader gets killed, he bugs out of the trench instead of trying to complete the mission. It’s not like he was going to make it to the objective anyway, with two-thirds of his shield trio dead and Darth fucking Vader sitting on his tail. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/37 "2009-09-17T16:23:35Z")
Fat guy in a little coat… Fat guy in a little coat… Would Porkins (i’m still laughing at that 32 years later) made really made weight in anyone’s military? Nah. Does Porkins look like the demographic of Star Wars fans? ummmm…yup. I’m thinking it was the first in a series of bunghole-smooching moves by the whoremaster Lucas to attract various audiences to this movie. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/38 "2009-09-17T16:28:04Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > What percentage of people who watch Star Wars care about all the back story stuff? > > You know this almost reminds me of a certain skit Shatner did on SNL. I bet you know which one I am thinking of. Apparently enough to keep this thread going…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/39 "2009-09-17T16:32:30Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > Fat guy in a little coat… > Fat guy in a little coat… > > Would Porkins (i’m still laughing at that 32 years later) made really made weight in anyone’s military? Nah. > > Does Porkins look like the demographic of Star Wars fans? ummmm…yup. > > I’m thinking it was the first in a series of bunghole-smooching moves by the whoremaster Lucas to attract various audiences to this movie. Classy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349/40 "2009-09-17T16:37:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Bigs: “I’m going in. Cover me, Porkins.” > > Porkins: “Fuck you, man! My name is Jeff!” I love you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-lucas-thinking-with-the-porkins-character-in-star-wars/510349.md?page=3)