'Little House On The Praire' — Introducing The TV Legend Who Starred As 'Mr. Edwards'

Aug 11, 2021 by apost team

“Little House on the Prairie” was an American Western historical drama that aired from 1974 to 1983. It is an adaptation of the best-selling book series “Little House” by Laura Ingalls Wilder. The television series starred Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle and Melissa Sue Anderson as members of the Ingalls family. The show centered around the Ingalls and their life on their farm in Plum Creek near Walnut Grove, Minnesota in the 1870s, ‘80s and ‘90s. The series also featured a rotation of other actors and characters.

Often referred to as “the wildcat from Tennessee,” Isaiah Edwards, or Mr. Edwards as he was typically called, became a trusted friend to the Ingalls family and a beloved character on “Little House on the Prairie.” The role of Mr. Edwards was portrayed by legendary television actor Victor French. French was an American actor and director best known for his performances on “Little House on the Prairie,” “Highway to Heaven” and “Carter Country.”

French began his career in Hollywood working as a stuntman. He guest-starred in 39 television series that were mostly Westerns or anthology programs. French also appeared on the popular series “Gunsmoke” 23 times, usually playing the role of the villain or crook. In 1972, the actor guest-starred on the series “The Waltons,” starring as a blacksmith whose wife can’t have children; on the show, he adopts an orphan boy that came to spend a week on Walton’s mountain. 

This good-natured role helped French get the part of Mr. Edwards on “Little House on the Prairie.” Another contributing factor was his friendship with Michael Landon, whom he met while working on an episode of “Bonanza.” Read on to hear more about French and his close friendship with Landon.

French was born in Santa Barbara, California on Dec. 4, 1934. His father was Ted French and he worked as an actor and stuntman in Westerns during the 1940s. The genre had an impact on French, who shared with The Washington Post in 1985 that he “spent every Saturday at the theater watching Western matinees.”

French also said, “I had parents with terrific values too. But that (the old Westerns) was what I was raised on. The thing they taught us was respect for other people and their property…You don’t lie, cheat or steal. I’m far from a saint, but those are my values.”

The star studied theater arts at the Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys, California. He then went on to follow in his father’s footsteps and worked as a stuntman before settling into the acting roles he is still remembered for today.

Working with Landon

French owed much of the success of his career to his close friendship with fellow actor Michael Landon. In the same interview with the Washington Post from 1985, French recalled, “When (Landon) went off to do ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ he wanted me for the show. We spend more time together than a married couple.”

French also credited Landon for being "the first to see beyond my looks," and for helping him get the part in "Little House on the Prairie" that allowed him to branch out from his previous villain roles. "The network wanted a name actor, but Michael stood by his guns. That role changed my career," he told the Los Angeles Times. "Michael is really my 'angel.'"

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The actor also said that Landon stopped him from being stuck playing the same character over and over again. French said Landon saved him from “20 years of playing killers, rapists and every kind of villain and pervert known to man. It had gotten to the point where crowds parted when they saw me coming.”

After “Little House” ended, French went to work on another series Landon produced called “Highway to Heaven.” Landon played an aspiring angel named Jonathan, seeking to do right in order to enter heaven. French played Mark Gordon, his mortal sidekick. 

In an interview with The Associated Press from the 1980s, French described his role like this: “I’m the guy on the street who responds as the audience does. I’m a little sour on the world. He quit the police force because he felt criminals were getting the best of the system. He’s closest to me. We share most of the same values. I don’t have to make up stuff, the feelings are mine. I’m as moved by injustice, prejudice and pain as he is.”

Landon worked as a director for the series as well and gave French the same opportunity. French said to The Washington Post, “I think Michael has good taste. I think I have good taste. Every show is an effort to show there’s a way to solve problems other than violence . . . We’re saturated with other shows telling us violence, hurtling cars, and T-and-A are the ways to solve problems. The (fan) mail says that it's great to have something to watch that shows a different way of dealing with problems."

Are you a fan of French and Landon’s TV shows? Which series is your favorite? Let us know and be sure to send this along to your friends and family.