Joey D. Vieira, 1944 – 2025

Actor Joey D. Vieira (who was also billed as Donald Keeler), died on April 7. He was one day short of his 81st birthday. Vieira came from a show-biz family: his aunt was Ruby Keeler, his father was animal trainer William McAllister Weatherwax, and his half brother was child actor Ken Weatherwax. Joey was already a working actor when, at age 10, he was cast as Tommy Rettig’s pal Porky in Lassie. He played that role from 1954-57, and went on to appear in Hank, My Three Sons, and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Vieira aged into small character parts (Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Remington Steele, Married…with Children, Moonlighting). He also produced and directed TV commercials and corporate promotional videos.