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Victor
French was a show biz veteran. The son of a movie stuntman,
French was born on December 4, 1934 in Santa Barbara, California.
He began his film career with a small role in the motion picture
Lassie. A staple in western films, French used his grand
stature and rough exterior to his benefit by playing the ever-present
bad guy. With recurring roles on Gunsmoke and Bonanza,
French developed a close friendship with Bonanza co-star,
Michael Landon who took the bad guy out of French's acting repertoire
and cast him as the loveable and faithful farmer, Isaiah Edwards
in Little House on the Prairie. For six seasons, French
played the role of confidant and best friend to Landon's character
in the highly successful series. French departed the drama to
star in his own short-lived comedy, Carter Country. But
with the cancellation of his sitcom, French returned to Little
House until the series end in March of 1983. French didn't wait
long for his next acting gig. Devoted friend, Landon cast his
buddy as ex-cop, Mark Gordon in Highway to Heaven. In
his role as a disgruntled former Oakland police officer working
with an angel to help people live better lives, French once
again was able to display his compassionate side. The show was
well received and audiences welcomed a television program with
an endearing spiritual theme. Unfortunately, French's success
in showbiz ended on June 15, 1989 when he passed away from cancer
after completing the fifth and last season of Highway to
Heaven. |
