Actor. He is probably best remembered for his role as ‘Isaiah Edwards’ on the NBC television drama series “Little House on the Prairie” which aired from September 1974 until May 1982, and as ‘Mark Gordon’ on the NBC television drama series “Highway to Heaven, from 1984 until 1989. Born in Santa Barbara, California, his father was an actor and stuntman who appeared in western films in the 1940s. He following in his father’s footsteps as a television stuntman, primarily in westerns and anthology shows. His first film appearance was an uncredited role as an office clerk in “The Magnificent Seven” (1960) and his first real western role was the 1961 episode “The Noose” of the syndicated western television series “Two Faces West.” In 1963 he was cast as ‘Larrimore’ in the episode “Fargo” on the ABC western series “The Dakotas.” He made 23 appearances on the CBS television western series “Gunsmoke,” usually playing a dangerous or bumbling outlaw. His other notable film and television work includes the recurring character ‘Agent 44’ in the NBC series “Get Smart” in 1965 through 1966, where he portrayed an undercover spy who showed up in the worst, most unlikely of places.  He played the role of ‘Vince Hackett’ in the western film “Charro!” (1969, with Elvis Presley), and appeared that year in a few episodes of the NBC television western drama “Bonanza.” His most prominent television roles was costarring with actor Michael Landon in “Little House on the Prairie” (1974 to 1977, 1979, and 1981 to 1983) and “Highway to Heaven.” From 1977 until 1979, he left “Little House on the Prairie” to star as the small-town Georgia police chief ‘Roy Mobey’ in the ABC television sitcom “Carter Country.” When the series ended, he returned to “Little House on the Prairie” to continue his role as ‘Isaiah Edwards’. A heavy smoker most all his life, he was diagnosed in April 1989 with advanced lung cancer from which he died two months later in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 54. In 1998 he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (bio by: William Bjornstad)