Actors

Victor French

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.