How Michael Landon and Victor French Developed One of TV’s Great Friendships
Beginning in the ’70s, when TV viewers watched a program with Michael Landon in it, they were likely to see Victor French as well. It is well-documented that, for much of their lives, these two were very close friends. However, it wasn’t always that way.
While Michael’s career was a howling success from the very start, Victor’s was less so. He started out following his father’s footsteps as a stunt double in TV and movies; and while he was able to eventually land parts himself, Victor was usually cast as one of the bad guys — a rough-and-tumble no goodnik that would need to be rounded up and thrown in jail.
©NBC / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection
When Michael and Victor first crossed paths on the TV series Bonanza, both were firmly entrenched in the character stereotypes that they had been playing on screen for years.
After that show ended, Michael began searching for his next big project and landed on the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Debuting in 1974 on NBC, Little House on the Prairie was perfectly cast and it was an instant hit with U.S. television audiences.
On the show, Victor played Mr. Edwards, a mountain man the Ingalls family becomes acquainted with; and, just like that, Victor went from playing lowlifes and bad guys to a role that would endear him to millions of children worldwide. Just like Victor himself, Mr. Edwards might have been rough around the edges, but he had an absolute heart of gold.
Everett Collection
Off-screen, the friendship between Michael and Victor blossomed. They seemed to bring out the best in each other; and when they hung out, you knew that some sort of hijinks would occur. Both of these guys knew how to have fun and loved pulling pranks on each other as well as other members of the cast.
When Victor was offered the leading role in a new comedy called Carter Country on ABC, his newly signed contract did not allow for appearances in shows on competing networks and, because of that, he could not appear as Mr. Edwards for an extended period of time.
While Victor was excited at the prospects of having his own starring vehicle, he felt badly that he couldn’t continue to play the character that he loved so much. He also felt bad that he’d left his friend Michael hanging, and part of him worried that his decision might impact their friendship.
Victor should not have worried, however, because when Carter Country ended its run after two seasons, Michael immediately reached out to Victor and asked him if he wanted to come back to Little House.
Victor was very grateful for their friendship. In a 1985 TV Guide Magazine article, he credited Michael with being the first person to see beyond his looks, joking that “crowds parted when they see me coming.” According to Victor, the network wanted a name actor to play Mr. Edwards, but Michael stood by his guns and gave him the role that changed his career.
© NBC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
Over the course of the remaining seasons of Little House, Victor became something of a mainstay on the series appearing over 50 times. And when that show ended and Michael began considering what might be next, one of the requirements was that his friend, Victor, be part of it. Highway to Heaven turned out to be the perfect TV series for both of them. In addition to starring with Michael in the show, an agreement was made to allow Victor to direct every third episode.
In 1989, Victor was diagnosed with lung cancer and, along with friends and family, Michael stood by him and gave him the needed moral support as he fought for survival. Sadly, it was a battle that he would lose. Victor French succumbed to the disease on June 15, 1989. He was just 54 years old.
Two years later, Michael would be gone as well. His legacy lives on to this very day in the hearts of those that he touched in both large and small ways, on-screen and off.
Author’s note: Huge thanks go out to Lee Tracy Hall French, Victor’s daughter, who shared some of her memories of her father with me prior to writing this article. For more details on the story behind their friendship check out the video below.
Hollywood Heaven
April 2021
Take the high road to Hollywood Heaven with feel-good TV shows, movies, music and more!
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