Trivia

Son of Clem Portman

Richard won an Academy Award for Best Sound on The Deer Hunter (1978) and he has been nominated eleven times for his work on other films.

He has a brother named Greg and sisters Deborah and Linda, Linda being the eldest.

His mother is Alberta Rose Long (maiden name Willetta) and step-father is William Frank Long.

Currently, Mr. Portman is taking time off from his career, teaching his craft at the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.

According to an 1998 interview with editor/sound editor Walter Murch at the Cinema Audio Society Annual Awards, Portman was the person who inspired the R2-D2 robot name for all the future Star Wars films. While working on American Graffiti (1973), Murch was using Portman's shorthand and said out-loud "R2-D2". A sleepy George Lucas woke up and asked what was said and Murch replied again. Lucas took notes that were later used a few years later on the first Star Wars film.

He has contributed with the sound department of six films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Godfather (1972), Nashville (1975), Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) and On Golden Pond (1981). Of those, The Godfather (1972) and The Deer Hunter (1978) are winners in the category.