Victor French facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victor French
French in 1977
Born	Victor Edwin French (1934-12-04)December 4, 1934 Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Died	June 15, 1989(1989-06-15) (aged 54) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1954–1989
Known for	Gunsmoke Highway to Heaven Little House on the Prairie Carter Country
Spouse(s)	Judith Schenz (m. 1959; div. 1975) Julie Cobb ​ ​ (m. 1976; div. 1978)​
Children	3

Victor Edwin French (born December 4, 1934 – died June 15, 1989) was an American actor and director. He is best known for his roles on popular TV shows. These include Gunsmoke, Little House on the Prairie, and Highway to Heaven. He also appeared in Carter Country.

Early Acting Career

Victor French was born in Santa Barbara, California. His mother was Nellie Louise Cowles. His father, Ted French, was an actor and stuntman. Ted French often appeared in Western movies in the 1940s. Victor even acted with his father in two episodes of Gunsmoke in 1966.

Victor French attended Los Angeles Valley College. He appeared in a war film called The Quick and the Dead in 1963. That same year, he was in Spencer's Mountain. This movie was the start of the TV series The Waltons.

Just like his father, Victor started his TV career as a stuntman. He mostly worked in Westerns. He also appeared as a guest star in many TV series. His first Western role was in 1961 in Two Faces West. He also appeared in The Dakotas.

French appeared on Gunsmoke a record 23 times. He often played a tough or clumsy bad guy. He was also a guest star on The Waltons. In one episode, he played a blacksmith named Curtis Norton. His character adopted an orphan boy.

This role helped him get his most famous part. He was cast as Mr. Edwards in Little House on the Prairie. This show started in 1974.

Victor French also worked with Elvis Presley in the 1969 Western movie Charro!. He played Agent 44 in the TV series Get Smart. He was a secret spy who popped up in funny places. He also appeared in a few episodes of Bonanza. Before working with Michael Landon again, he was a guest on Kung Fu. He played a sheriff in 1973. French also appeared in Mission: Impossible. In 1974, he played a mean sheriff in Gunsmoke.

In 1976, French was in an episode of the Western series Sara. In 1982, he acted in the movie An Officer and a Gentleman. He played the stepfather of the main character, Paula Pokrifki.

Working with Michael Landon

Victor French is best known for working with Michael Landon. They starred together in two TV shows. He played Isaiah Edwards on Little House on the Prairie. He was on the show from 1974 to 1977, and again from 1981 to 1984. Victor French also directed some episodes of Little House.

Later, he starred as Mark Gordon on Highway to Heaven. This show ran from 1984 to 1989.

From 1977 to 1979, he left Little House on the Prairie. He starred in a show called Carter Country. He played a police chief in a small town in Georgia. When that show ended, Michael Landon welcomed him back to Little House.

People who knew them said Victor French and Michael Landon were very close friends. They always made each other laugh. Cindy Landon, Michael's wife, said Victor was a quiet person. Michael, however, was very outgoing.

His Passing

Victor French passed away on June 15, 1989. He was 54 years old. He died at Sherman Oaks Community Hospital in Los Angeles, California. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer three months before.

He had three children with his first wife, Judith. They were his son, Victor Edwin Jr., and twin daughters, Kelly and Tracy.

In 1989, Victor French was honored. He was added to the Western Performers Hall of Fame. This is at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Filmography

Movies

Television Shows

Director (Movies and TV)

Victor French also directed many TV show episodes and movies:

• Little House on the Prairie - 18 episodes (1974–1983)
• Gunsmoke - 5 episodes (1974–1975)
• Buck Rogers in the 25th Century - episode - The Satyr (1981)
• Dallas - episode - Denial (1982)
• Little House: Look Back to Yesterday - TV movie (1983)
• Little House: Bless All the Dear Children - TV movie (1984)
• Highway to Heaven - 12 episodes (1984–1986)
• Rock-a-Doodle - co-director (live action parts) (1991)

See also

In Spanish: Victor French para niños