Victor French

'Victor French' (qv) was the son of a stuntman. His debut was a small role in _Lassie (1954)_ (qv), uncredited. He had his first real acting experiences in western-films, where he usually played the "bad guy" due to his rather gruff look. This changed with _Little House on the Prairie (1974)_ (qv), (as Isaiah Edwards). In 1977, he left _Little House on the Prairie (1974)_ (qv) to play in his own sitcom _Carter Country (1977)_ (qv), which lasted for two seasons. French then teamed up again with 'Michael Landon' (qv) in _Highway to Heaven (1984)_ (qv), as (Mark Gordon). French, along with 'Leonard Nimoy' (qv), founded LA's "Company of Angels", one of the area's earliest attempts to establish LA as a type of "Off-Broadway-West Coast". Its limited seating arrangement (99 seats) served as the prototype of LA's Equity-Waiver code. After he left the company in the mid 1970s, he went on to teach acting privately. He was well sought-after, and it became apparent that he had to take students on "by referral only". His philosophy and style was gentle and encouraging to young actors just entering the field. He directed in LA Theaters and won the Critics Circle Award for "12 Angry Men." In the 1980s, he declined to play "bad guys." 'Victor French' (qv) died 1989 after finishing the last episode of _Highway to Heaven (1984)_ (qv).::Thorsten Scheffner