Victor French
Victor Edwin French ( born December 4, 1934 in Santa Barbara, California, † June 15, 1989 in Los Angeles, California ) was an American actor and director.
Life
Victor Frenchs father Ted was a stuntman in Hollywood, his mother Susan, a stage actress. French wanted to be an actor from an early age. After guest roles in several television shows, he made his breakthrough in 1965 when he landed a role in the successful American series Get Smart. French embodied in the agent 44, a secret spy who could turn up in the most unlikely places.
This was followed by regular appearances in Western films and series such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza, where he played mainly rogues and scoundrels. By Michael Landon in 1974 he received the role of " Isaiah Edwards " in the family series Little House through which changed its image. In this role he played a penniless, good-hearted man who spread mostly good humor and was extremely fond of children.
In addition, French had guest appearances in series such as The Waltons, Fame, The Streets of San Francisco and in feature films such as An Officer and a Gentleman. From 1977, French played in his own sitcom Carter Country.
In 1984, he was hired again by his friend Michael Landon for a new series project. In the series created by Landon Highway to Heaven played a former French policemen, whose harsh and bitter view of the world by the angel " Jonathan Smith " (Michael Landon ) is positively influenced. For this series, French also worked as a director, just as in some episodes of the TV series Gunsmoke, Dallas and Little House as well as in the theater scene in Los Angeles.
Private
Victor French actress Julie Cobb married in 1976, the daughter of Lee J. Cobb, but the marriage lasted only two years. The actor has been married twice and is the father of Victor French jun. and twins.
In April 1989, French, who was a lifelong heavy smoker received the diagnosis of lung cancer in advanced stages. Shortly after completion of the filming of the final season of Highway to Heaven he died in June 1989 from the disease. He was cremated and his ashes scattered in Santa Barbara ( California).