‘More Time Together Than A Married Couple’

They’ve portrayed good friends on-screen as Charles Ingalls and Mr. Edwards in Little House on the Prairieand again as Mark Gordon and Jonathan Smith on Highway to Heaven. But behind-the-scenes, their Real-life friendship didn’t end. Michael Landon and Victor French, who worked together multiple times over the years, became close after working on their first project together.

How Michael Landon and Victor French first met

The dynamic duo first met on the set of Blind. Landon starred on the series as Little Joe Cartwright for the entire duration of the show, which aired from 1959 until 1973. French made a number of appearances on the show, but his first was in 1962 during season 4, as Conn.

The filming of the episode “Gallagher’s Sons” was when French and Landon first met, which eventually sparked a lifelong friendship. French later appeared on the series four more times, portraying different characters in every episode. In Season 9, he played Aaron Gore, in Season 11 he took on the role of Jesse Potter for two episodes and, finally, in Season 12, he portrayed Tom Callahan.

In a 1986 interview, French opened up about how Landon changed his career and his life. He explained he was often cast in the role of the villain, a role that would make people step aside for him to pass because they were frightened. But when Landon got to know him, everything changed.

“I met Michael Landon on Blind,” French shared in an interview. “He had been on the show for, by that time, maybe 12 years, and I had done seven or eight with him, but the last couple were humorous. Luckily, Michael Landon saw that side of me… I’m able to do that thanks to Michael Landon.”

The actors become co-stars

Following the end of BlindLandon was on the hunt for another successful project, which is when he decided to work on Little House on the Prairie. Landon began directing and writing the show as well and, having become friendly with French, decided to cast him in the project as well.

“When he went off to do Little House on the Prairiehe wanted me for the show,” French said in a 1985 interview with The Washington Post.

He was cast as Isaiah Edwards, more affectionately known as Mr. Edwards. The character was a good-hearted man with a troubled past, who became close friends with the Ingalls family. He became a very good friend to Charles and remained in the Ingalls’ lives even after Laura was married with her own family.

Once Little House came to an end, Landon created Highway to Heavenwhich aired from 1984 to 1989, and decided to cast himself and French as the lead characters. Landon starred as probationary angel Jonathan Smith, who is sent back to Earth to work with ex-cop Mark Gordon (French) to help people.

French reflected on how often he was with Landon, between being on set and being best friends in real life. He said in an interview, “We spend more time together than a married couple.”

Landon and French face similar fates

Highway to Heaven came to an end after season 5, mostly due to the show’s declining ratings. But the ending also had to do with French being diagnosed with lung cancer in March 1989. It wasn’t long before he lost his life to the disease on June 15, 1989. A couple of years later, Landon faced a similar fate, being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April 1991. He died after only a few months on July 1, 1991. Both men were 54 at the time of their deaths.

Although the two stars were lost at an early age, the world remembers Landon and French well for their starring roles in the hit TV shows, as well as for their beautiful friendship.

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