Joey D. Vieira, Young Actor on ‘Lassie,’ Dies at 80

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Joey D. Vieira, known for his role as farm boy Sylvester “Porky” Brockway in the initial four seasons of the lengthy CBS show, Lassie, has passed away. He was 80 years old.

Vieira passed away on Monday, the day prior to his birthday, as confirmed by his “Lassie” co-star, Jon Provost, through a post on Facebook.

Viera was featured in several well-known movies, including “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” from 1969, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” in 1986, “Red Heat” from 1988, “The Patriot” in 2000, and “Nebraska” in 2001.

Known as Vieira, this individual is famously linked to Donald Keeler because his aunt was Ruby Keeler, a renowned actress in Warner Bros. musicals. Over 91 episodes from 1954-57, Vieira graced the screen on the show Lassie. Initially, the storyline centered around the Miller family – Tommy Rettig portraying Jeff, Jan Clayton as his mother Ellen, and George Cleveland depicting Gramps – residing on a farm with their collie.

Frequently, Porky – along with his pet basset hound Pokey – could be spotted donning a hat and panting, struggling to match pace with his closest buddy Jeff and their canine companion Lassie. (It was Provost, who portrayed Timmy Martin, who joined the cast in 1957.)

Following his stint on the long-running show “Lassie”, Vieira later appeared in episodes of “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis”, “Shirley Temple’s Storybook” and “My Three Sons”. His roles in these shows were similar to that of Porky, his character from “Lassie”.

He expressed during an interview in 1982 that he was exhausted from continually repeating the same lines, so he made up his mind to leave behind the sneakers and the beanie. Subsequently, he spent a year living in England.

Following his move back to California, Vieira shed over 50 pounds, but regained this weight in 1965 for a role on the NBC sitcom “Hank” where Dick Kallman played a “college drop-in.” Created by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, the show had a short run of only one season.

Joseph Douglas Vieira, born on April 8, 1944, in Los Angeles, is the son of animal trainer William McAllister Weatherwax and Marjorie, Ruby’s sister. His half-brother, Ken Weatherwax, who portrayed Pugsley, hails from the popular 1960s comedy series on ABC called The Addams Family.

1953 saw Vieira’s first television appearance gracing an episode of the CBS sitcom “Meet Mr. McNutley,” a series headlined by Ray Milland. Later, he secured a recurring part in the NBC comedy “The Pride of the Family,” where Fay Wray and Paul Hartman were the main stars.

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1953 marked Vieira’s debut on an episode of the CBS sitcom “Meet Mr. McNutley,” which starred Ray Milland, followed by a recurring role in the NBC comedy “The Pride of the Family” alongside Fay Wray and Paul Hartman.

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1953 was the year when Vieira made his first television appearance on an episode of CBS sitcom “Meet Mr. McNutley,” with Ray Milland in the lead role, and later he joined the cast of NBC comedy “The Pride of the Family” featuring Fay Wray and Paul Hartman.

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1953 witnessed Vieira’s initial foray into television as a guest star on an episode of CBS sitcom “Meet Mr. McNutley,” led by Ray Milland, and subsequently he was cast in the NBC comedy series “The Pride of the Family,” where Fay Wray and Paul Hartman were the leading actors.

or

1953 was when Vieira stepped into the spotlight for the first time on an episode of CBS sitcom “Meet Mr. McNutley,” starring Ray Milland, later securing a recurring role in NBC comedy series “The Pride of the Family” alongside Fay Wray and Paul Hartman.

or

1953 was the year when Vieira made his onscreen debut on an episode of CBS sitcom Meet Mr. McNutley, starring Ray Milland, and later he landed a recurring role in NBC comedy series The Pride of the Family, with Fay Wray and Paul Hartman as the main stars.

At the age of ten, he landed a job on the show “Lassie,” which had been brought to life by producer Robert Maxwell and his uncle, animal trainer Rudd Weatherwax.

Vieira’s filmography encompassed titles like “The Private War of Major Benson” (1955), “Evel Knievel” (1971) and “Free Enterprise” (1998). Additionally, he starred in television shows such as “Remington Steele“, “Married … With Children“, and “Moonlighting“.

Apart from his main role, he was additionally involved in music production, composing music, and directing advertisements for television commercials and corporate promotions.

Survivors include his daughter, Shanyn. His son, Beau, died of cancer in 2023.

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2025-04-10 04:54