“Little House” Actor Victor French’s Son Has Died – Cast Members Pay Tribute
Victor French Jr. (pictured right), the son of beloved "Little House on the Prairie" actor Victor French (pictured left, top row, furthest right), recently passed away. The "Little House" family is mourning their loss. (Photo Credits: Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images & Little House on the Prairie / Facebook)
Who Was Victor French And His Son, Victor French Jr.?
The Little House on the Prairie family is mourning the loss of Victor French Jr.
Victor French Jr. was the beloved son of the late actor Victor French. The elder Victor was born on December 4, 1934, in Santa Barbara, California.
Victor Sr.’s father, Ted French, was an actor who appeared in Western films and TV series. Ted and Victor Sr. starred alongside each other in an episode of Gunsmoke. Victor Sr. appeared in Gunsmoke a total of 23 times.
Additionally, Ted and Victor Sr. co-starred in the 1963 World War II film The Quick and the Dead.
But Victor Sr. was most well-known for playing Mr. Isaiah Edwards on the Little House on the Prairie TV series. He played the character across 57 episodes and in multiple TV movies.
Little House lead Michael Landon (who played Charles “Pa” Ingalls) and Victor Sr. were close friends in real life.
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Victor Sr. passed away on June 15, 1989, at the age of 54, just three months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was survived by his two daughters, Tracy and Kelly, and his son, Victor Jr.
All three of French’s children have worked tirelessly to keep his legacy alive. Victor Jr. often visited Little House events and conventions to speak about his father and the role he played in making the series so memorable.
So, the entire Little House community was understandably devastated when news broke that Victor Jr. had recently passed away.
Little House On The Prairie Stars Share Heartbroken Tributes To Victor French Jr.
The official Facebook page for Little House on the Prairie shared the news about Victor French Jr.’s death on Tuesday (April 7). They said:
“…he carried a special connection to the Little House family, but he was also cherished in his own right. Through his appearances at recent conventions, his kindness to cast members, and the warmth he showed to fans, he became a familiar and much-loved part of this community. He will be deeply missed by so many who were grateful to know him and spend time with him.“
Pamela Bob, Dean Butler, and Alison Arngrim, the hosts of the Little House on the Prairie 50th Anniversary Podcast, also shared a tribute to Victor Jr.
They remembered his “gentle spirit” and passion for preserving his dad’s legacy. They said he was full of “kindness and devotion to the characters, stories, and values fans have loved for more than half a century.”
Alison (who played Nellie Oleson) and Dean (who played Almanzo Wilder) also shared individual tributes to Victor French. Jr.
Alison reacted to the news and shared a tribute collage made by Victor’s sister. She said, “Aw….man. our dear Victor Jr. has left us. He was a purveyor of joy. A recruiter for happiness. He lit up the room. We will miss him very much.“
Dean Butler Reveals That Victor French Jr. Died After A Battle With Cancer
Dean Butler uploaded a video about Victor Jr.’s death on Instagram. He revealed that Victor Jr. battled cancer prior to his passing, but didn’t go into specifics about his diagnosis.
“For a long time, Tracy French-Hall and her brother, Victor French [Jr.], have been a part of our Little House on the Prairie events,” Dean said. “Victor and Tracy, of course, are the offspring of the much-beloved actor Victor French, who will always be remembered for his very special portrayal of Isaiah Edwards on the original Little House on the Prairie television series.”
Dean noted how he’ll always remember Victor Jr. for his “gentle sweetness,” sense of humor, and “lovely presence.” He also said that Victor Jr. “was a wonderful representative of his father’s talent.”
In the caption of his video, Dean wrote, “You will be missed, Victor French Jr. Sending lots of love to the French family in this time. Your Little House family is here for you.”
Victor Jr.’s sister, Tracy, also shared a GoFundMe to help fund a documentary about their father. She said it was one of Victor Jr.’s “last requests” to have the documentary come to fruition. View the GoFundMe here.
Watch Dean Butler’s heartfelt tribute to Victor French Jr. in the video below…
