Victor French
Victor French played Mark Gordon, a former police officer who became Jonathan’s best friend and partner on his missions.
French and Landon were friends long before Highway to Heaven. They had worked together on Bonanza and Little House on the Prairie, where French played Isaiah Edwards.
When Landon created Highway to Heaven, he brought his longtime friend with him. French not only acted on the show but also directed several episodes.
Sadly, Highway to Heaven was French’s last TV series.
French was diagnosed with lung cancer in March 1989, soon after filming the show’s fifth season. He died on June 15, 1989, at age 54, less than two months before the last episode aired.
Landon took French’s death especially hard, losing both a longtime collaborator and a close friend. Their chemistry was a big part of Highway to Heaven, and the friendship between Jonathan and Mark reflected the real bond the two actors shared off screen.
