Joey Vieira: Movies & Box Office

Joseph Douglas Vieira, professionally known as Joey D. Vieira and early in his career as Donald Keeler, was a versatile American performer whose career spanned six decades across film, television, music, and behind‑the‑scenes roles. Born on April 8, 1944 in Los Angeles, California, he entered the entertainment world as a child actor, borrowing the surname Keeler from his famed aunt Ruby Keeler and portraying Sylvester “Porky” Brockway in the beloved TV series Lassie from 1954 to 1957. His early television work also included recurring spots on The Pride of the Family and Hank and guest turns on classics such as The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Shirley Temple’s Storybook, and My Three Sons, establishing him as a reliable youthful presence on the small screen. Transitioning into adulthood, Vieira continued to appear in popular series including Moonlighting, Remington Steele, and Married…With Children, while his film credits grew to feature roles in The Private War of Major Benson (1955) alongside Charlton Heston and later a turn as Peter Howard in Mel Gibson’s The Patriot (2000). Beyond acting, he expanded into writing, producing, and directing, demonstrating a broad creative skill set that enriched his later projects. In the 1970s and 1980s he pursued a music career, releasing songs that would echo into the 21st century when one of his tracks was sampled on Tyler, the Creator’s “911/Mr. Lonely” from the album Flower Boy. His familial connections included being the half‑brother of Ken Weatherwax, famed for playing Pugsley Addams, and the nephew of both Ruby Keeler and Lassie trainer Rudd Weatherwax, linking him to a notable entertainment lineage. Vieira’s life concluded after a prolonged illness, passing away on April 7, 2025 while in hospice care, just one day shy of his 81st birthday, leaving behind a legacy of diverse contributions to American popular culture.