From the Movies
Lieutenant Porkins bore the com-designation Red Six during the Battle of Yavin. This young Rebel starfighter pilot was a friend of Biggs Darklighter. Though his X-wing fighter was maneuverable enough to avoid the Death Star's sluggish turbolasers, a mechanical malfunction hampered his ability to dodge enemy fire. His fighter was hit by the Imperial weapons emplacement, bursting into fiery fragments, and killing Porkins immediately.
From the Expanded Universe
Jek Porkins was a free trader from the Bestine system. On his homeworld of Bestine IV, he perfected his piloting and gunnery skills with his civilian T-16. When the Empire established a new high-security base in the area, the entire population of Bestine IV had to be relocated. While much of the populace attempted to remain neutral in the Galactic Civil War, Porkins heard the stirring words of Princess Leia Organa, and joined the Rebellion.
As a pilot in the Rebellion, Porkins ranked an impressive record of 16 confirmed kills in under 40 hours of actual combat flight time. His prowess remained unchallenged in the oft-neglected strafing run. For his expertise and his girth, he was nicknamed "Belly Runner."
Jek Porkins served at Tierfon Rebel Outpost alongside his friend Wes Janson. In fact, it was Janson, not Porkins, who was called up for service at the Yavin base to fight the Death Star. Janson could not go as he was ill with Hesken's Fever. Porkins took his place. After his death at Yavin, Porkins posthumously received the Kenobi Medallion.
Behind the Scenes
Actor William Hootkins was first called in to play the role of the humanoid Jabba stand-in for
A New Hope, though Hootkins could not make it to the shoot. Hootkins also played a governmental official in
Raiders of the Lost Ark and was featured in an episode of
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
The original script identified Porkins as Blue Four. When the color schemes were changed from Blue to Red, Porkins remained number "Four" up until shooting. He was then re-identified as Red Six, and John D. became Red Four. This last minute change may explain why a fellow pilot can be heard asking for Red Six after Porkins has already died.
The Marvel Comics adaptation of Star Wars identifies Porkins with the first name "Tono." The novelization also gives him the nickname of "Piggy."
