LaPorte was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and attended the Oklahoma State Tech where he graduated in 1974. In his last year at the State Tech he auditioned for the Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey's Clown College and was accepted. He studied theatrical makeup, costume, prop making, and prosthetics and toured between 1975 and 1978 as clown, high stilt walker, and for two years as boss clown through the country. He later moved to California and started his career as a professional makeup artist for film and television.