LOS ANGELES -- Victor French, 54, a television actor and director who was the bearded co-star of "Highway to Heaven" and "Little House on the Prairie," died of cancer June 15 at a hospital here. The actor was known early in his career as a leading television villain, appearing in more than 20 episodes of "Gunsmoke," directing five of them. He was frequently seen in "Bonanza." He subsequently played the scruffy farmer Isaiah Edwards on "Little House on the Prairie," starring Michael Landon. Beneath his character's tough exterior was a kind, gentle man. Mr. French left the series in 1977 to star in his own situation comedy, "Carter Country," playing a lovable redneck police chief in a city not far from Plains, Ga., home of former president Jimmy Carter. Several years after "Carter Country" was canceled by ABC in 1979, Mr. French rejoined "Little House" in 1982, staying with the series until 1983. He teamed with Landon again on NBC's "Highway to Heaven" in 1984, playing Mark Gordon, a burly and bitter ex-cop who was rescued from despair in the series by Landon's Jonathan Smith, an earthbound angel determined to save ruined lives. In a 1985 interview, Mr. French credited Landon with being "the first to see beyond my looks," pushing to get him the part in "Little House" that allowed him to branch out from villain roles. "The network wanted a name actor, but Michael stood by his guns. That role changed my career," he said. "Michael is really my 'angel.' " In addition to co-starring, Mr. French directed every third episode of "Highway to Heaven," with Landon directing the other two. Mr. French also played Agent 44 on "Get Smart" and appeared in the short-lived situation comedy "The Hero" on NBC in 1966. Mr. French was born in Santa Barbara, the son of a Hollywood stunt man. He also directed for the theater, winning a Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his production of "12 Angry Men." He wrote the play "My Daughter Comes on Thursdays" and taught acting for 20 years. HAROLD J. RUSSO CIA Analyst & Teacher Harold J. Russo, 85, a former OSS worker and retired CIA analyst who taught Spanish studies at the Landon School in Bethesda from 1965 to 1972, died June 7 of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Greenwich, Conn. He lived in Greenwich. Dr. Russo was commissioned in the Army Reserve in 1942 and served with the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. He retired from the reserves in 1965 with the rank of colonel. His military decorations included the Legion of Merit. He came to the Washington area in 1948 and served as a Latin American analyst in operational and intelligence divisions of the CIA. He retired from the agency in 1965 and became head of Spanish studies at Landon School. He moved to Connecticut in 1974. Dr. Russo was a native of New Haven, Conn. He was a graduate of Yale University, where he also received a master's degree in French and Italian literature. He received a doctorate in French and Italian literature from the University of Pennsylvania. During the 1930s, he was master and department head at several New England preparatory schools. Dr. Russo was a member of the Veterans of the OSS and the Army & Navy Club. His first wife, Mildred S. Russo, died in 1972. Survivors include his wife, Harriet Ellis Russo of Greenwich; a daughter by his first marriage, Nancy Inman of Austin, Tex.; and two grandchildren. ISABELLA LARNER STOTT Active in Church, Charity Work Isabella Larner Stott, 91, who had been active in church work and charitable causes in Washington, died of cancer June 14 at an Orleans, Mass., nursing home. Mrs. Stott, who lived in Washington, had a vacation home in Orleans. Mrs. Stott was a native of Washington and a graduate of Holton-Arms School. She also attended Smith College in Northampton, Mass., and the Corcoran School of Art here. She was a former member of boards of the Young Women's Christian Home here and the Washington Home for Foundlings. She was an American Red Cross volunteer and nurse's aide here during both world wars. A lifelong member of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Stott was also a church deaconess and Christian education teacher. She actively participated in church programs for the poor. Survivors include her husband, Charles A. Stott of Washington; two daughters, Lucy Ann Stott Niven of North Palm Beach, Fla., and Lillian Stott Rice of South Orleans, Mass.; three sisters, Ruth Larner Oliphant of Washington, Anna Southard Larner Cox of Stuart, Fla., and Lucy Larner Banks of Mifflintown, Pa.; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. GEORGE WILLIAM BARRY Transportaion Department Official George William Barry, 80, a retired Army colonel who was a Department of Transportation official for 23 years before retiring this year, died of cancer June 13 at his home in Alexandria. Col. Barry, who joined Transportation in 1966, retired as deputy director and chief of the resource management division in the Office of Emergency Transportation. During the mid-1980s, he headed a U.S. delegation to the NATO civil aviation planning committee. He was a native of Illinois and graduate of the University of Illinois. He received a commission in the Army Reserve in 1930, and was called to active duty five years later with the Corps of Engineers. During World War II, he served as a transportation operations officer. He was a movements control planning officer during the Berlin Airlift. His last post, before retiring from active duty in 1964, was as chief of the mobility division at the Army Materiel Command. His decorations included two Legion of Merit awards. Col. Barry was a consultant to the Transportation Department for two years before joining its Office of Emergency Transportation. His awards from Transportation included a Distinguished Career Service Award. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Mary Margaret Barry of Alexandria; a daughter, Diane Smart of Rock Island, Ill.; and two grandchildren. ANNA HURWITZ Volunteer Activist Anna Hurwitz, 94, who had been active in World War II relief efforts and volunteer work for Jewish organizations, died of pneumonia June 14 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. She lived in Washington. Mrs. Hurwitz, who was born in England, came to this country and the Washington area in the early 1900s. Her father, Gedalia Silverstone, was Washington's chief rabbi from that time until 1936. She married olive oil exporter Nathan Hurwitz in 1920. During the 1920s and 1930s, they lived in Spain and France. While living in Europe, Mrs. Hurwitz participated in relief efforts for refugees from Nazi Germany. She returned to Washington in 1939. During World War II, she worked with American Red Cross and B'nai B'rith relief efforts and the D.C. War Finance Committee's war bond sales. Later, she worked as a fund-raiser for the newly created state of Israel. Her husband died in 1961. Survivors include a daughter, Doreen L. Brown of Washington; a son, Myron Leslie Hurwitz of Darien, Conn.; a brother, Rabbi Harry Silverstone of Washington; a sister, Miriam Becker of Bethesda; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.