Aaron Spelling was born in Dallas, Texas, to Polish Jewish immigrant parents, and attended Forest Avenue High School. After serving with the United States Army Air Forces, he attended Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1949. He married actress Carolyn Jones in 1953, and they moved to California.
Spelling sold his first script to Jane Wyman Theater in 1954. He went on to write for Dick Powell, Playhouse 90, and Last Man, amongst others. Later, he found work as an actor additionally. In total he played screen parts in 22 programs (in several shows a few episodes; none of his flagships, perhaps the best known being Gunsmoke) between 1956 and 1997. During the 1950s, Spelling joined Powell's Four Star Productions.
After Powell's death he formed Thomas-Spelling Productions with Danny Thomas. Their first success was with the television show The Mod Squad. In total he wrote for 14 television productions between 1957 and 1974, including several series with multiple episodes on his credit. He also began a collaboration at this time with associate producer Shelley Hull, who, aside from "The Mod Squad", had worked with Spelling on "The Rookies" and "Charlie's Angels." Hull also worked with Spelling in 1976 on the hit ABC movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble", starring a young John Travolta. Spelling directed only once, on "The Conchita Vasquez Story", a 1959 TV Episode of "Wagon Train".
Spelling divorced Jones in 1965 and in 1968 he married Carol Jean Marer, who took his name as Candy Spelling. He was father of Victoria Davey Spelling and Randall Gene Spelling, both of whom became actors as teenagers, as Tori Spelling and Randy Spelling. They mainly appeared in several of their father's productions, most notably in "Beverly Hills, 90210". The family's 123-room home in Los Angeles, built by Spelling for the cost of USD $47,000,000, and named "The Manor", occupies 46,500 square feet (slightly over one acre) and is the largest single-family dwelling in Hollywood. It is larger than the Taj Mahal but smaller than the Pentagon.
In 1972, he created Aaron Spelling Productions, and another co-production company with Leonard Goldberg. His company went public in 1986 as Spelling Entertainment. Spelling also produced the NBC daytime soap opera Sunset Beach from 1997 to 1999, and in one of his few acting roles since the 1960s, played one of Bette's (Kathleen Noone) ex-husbands for one day in 1997. He also appeared as himself on 27 programs between 1992 and 2005. After 2000, Spelling rarely gave serious interviews, and control of the Spelling Television company has been directed by his business partner E. Duke Vincent and the company's president, Jonathan Levin.
In 2001, Spelling was diagnosed with oral cancer. On January 28, 2006, Spelling was sued by his former nurse who seeks unspecified damages for ten claims, including sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, sexual battery, assault, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On June 18, 2006, Spelling suffered a severe stroke at his estate in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California. He died there five days later on June 23, 2006, from complications of the stroke, at the age of 83. The public was not allowed to attend Spelling's funeral held several days after his death. Aaron Spelling was interred in a mausoleum crypt in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.
Spelling sold his first script to Jane Wyman Theater in 1954. He went on to write for Dick Powell, Playhouse 90, and Last Man, amongst others. Later, he found work as an actor additionally. In total he played screen parts in 22 programs (in several shows a few episodes; none of his flagships, perhaps the best known being Gunsmoke) between 1956 and 1997. During the 1950s, Spelling joined Powell's Four Star Productions.
After Powell's death he formed Thomas-Spelling Productions with Danny Thomas. Their first success was with the television show The Mod Squad. In total he wrote for 14 television productions between 1957 and 1974, including several series with multiple episodes on his credit. He also began a collaboration at this time with associate producer Shelley Hull, who, aside from "The Mod Squad", had worked with Spelling on "The Rookies" and "Charlie's Angels." Hull also worked with Spelling in 1976 on the hit ABC movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble", starring a young John Travolta. Spelling directed only once, on "The Conchita Vasquez Story", a 1959 TV Episode of "Wagon Train".
Spelling divorced Jones in 1965 and in 1968 he married Carol Jean Marer, who took his name as Candy Spelling. He was father of Victoria Davey Spelling and Randall Gene Spelling, both of whom became actors as teenagers, as Tori Spelling and Randy Spelling. They mainly appeared in several of their father's productions, most notably in "Beverly Hills, 90210". The family's 123-room home in Los Angeles, built by Spelling for the cost of USD $47,000,000, and named "The Manor", occupies 46,500 square feet (slightly over one acre) and is the largest single-family dwelling in Hollywood. It is larger than the Taj Mahal but smaller than the Pentagon.
In 1972, he created Aaron Spelling Productions, and another co-production company with Leonard Goldberg. His company went public in 1986 as Spelling Entertainment. Spelling also produced the NBC daytime soap opera Sunset Beach from 1997 to 1999, and in one of his few acting roles since the 1960s, played one of Bette's (Kathleen Noone) ex-husbands for one day in 1997. He also appeared as himself on 27 programs between 1992 and 2005. After 2000, Spelling rarely gave serious interviews, and control of the Spelling Television company has been directed by his business partner E. Duke Vincent and the company's president, Jonathan Levin.
In 2001, Spelling was diagnosed with oral cancer. On January 28, 2006, Spelling was sued by his former nurse who seeks unspecified damages for ten claims, including sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, sexual battery, assault, wrongful termination and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On June 18, 2006, Spelling suffered a severe stroke at his estate in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California. He died there five days later on June 23, 2006, from complications of the stroke, at the age of 83. The public was not allowed to attend Spelling's funeral held several days after his death. Aaron Spelling was interred in a mausoleum crypt in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.
Aaron's company, Spelling Entertainment owns World Vision, Hamilton Projects and Republic Pictures. Spelling Entertainment also owns a software company called Virgin Interactive.
(edit)
Aaron had many business partners including E. Duke Vincent and Leonard Goldberg.
(edit)
Barbara Stanwyck was his daughter, Tori's godmother.
(edit)
Aaron's mentor was Dick Powell, who like Aaronsuffered from throat cancer due to their heavy smoking.
(edit)
Aaron was friends with Nolan Miller, Dominick Dunne and Lawrence Gordon.
(edit)
Aaron has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
(edit)
In 1985 Aaron became vice-chairman of Spelling Entertainment, Inc., and chairman of its subsidiary, Spelling Television.
(edit)
After Aaron wrote his first pilot he became a producer for Four Star Productions.
(edit)
He started as a writer and sold his first script to the Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre back in 1955.
(edit)
Aaron has helped make household names for many actors of his shows over the years including; Jamie Luner, Joan Collins, Heather Locklear, Marcia Cross, and George Eads.
(edit)
Aaron tried to buy the rights to Degrassi Junior High when it was on, so he could produce the show in the U.S., but his offer was turned down and Aaron ended up creating Beverly Hills 90210 instead.
(edit)
Aaron attended Forest Avenue High School.
(edit)
Aaron worked with both Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano on two of his other shows, Beverly Hills 90210 and Melrose Place respectively. Ironically both times Shannen left the show after only a few seasons, and being replaced with another main character.
(edit)
At the end of every Season 11 episode, of 7th Heaven ended with these words in the closing credits: "In Memory of Aaron Spelling".
(edit)
Website, TV Series Finale announced that 7th Heaven's second series finale, on May 13, 2007, will be dedicated to the late Aaron Spelling.
(edit)
Aaron's show 7th Heaven is the longest running of them all and the longest running family show on Televsion, but Sunset Beach has the most amount of episodes.
(edit)
Reportedly, estranged daughter Tori Spelling reconciled with her father shortly before he fell ill. She found out along with the rest of the public that her father had passed away.
(edit)
He worked in some capacity on almost 200 productions.
(edit)
He often emphasized that his favorite project of all time was 7th Heaven.
(edit)
The public was not allowed to attend Spelling's funeral held several days after his death. Aaron was buried at Hillside Memorial Park in L.A.
(edit)
On January 28, 2006, Aaron Spelling was sued by his former nurse who sought unspecified damages for ten claims, including sexual harassment and discrimination, retaliation, sexual battery, assault, wrongful termination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
(edit)
In 2004, he was portrayed by Dan Castellaneta in the NBC film Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels.
(edit)
Aaron became partners with Danny Thomas to create Thomas-Spelling Productions. In 1972, he created Spelling-Goldberg Productions with Leonard Goldberg. He then created Spelling Entertainment, Inc. which went public in 1986.
(edit)
He suffered a stroke on June 18, 2006 and was hospitalized. On June 23, he passed away.
(edit)
He was a lifelong smoker before being diagnosed with oral cancer in 2001.
(edit)
Four of his shows (and counting) have been made into theatrical films.
(edit)
He holds the Guinness World Record for most prolific television producer.
(edit)
He used to be a cheerleader.
(edit)
He had so many shows on ABC in the 1970s, people in the business joked that ABC stood for Aaron's Broadcasting Company.
(edit)
He graduated from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas with a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1945.
(edit)
He took the name 'Jerry Lane' during World War II.
(edit)
He suffered from fear of flying.
(edit)
His 6-acre mansion "The Manor" at 594 Mapleton Drive in Bel Air, California has 123 rooms, a bowling alley, swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, screening room and four 2-car garages. Spelling bought the property in 1983, including a house that had belonged to Bing Crosby. He demolished the Crosby house and built the largest single-family home in California.
(edit)
He wrote an autobiography entitled A Prime Time Life, which was published in 1996.
(edit)
He was mentioned in the movie Legally Blonde. Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) says, "I grew up in Bel-Air, across the street from Aaron Spelling."
(edit)
He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award in 1963 for The Dick Powell Show.
(edit)
He has won two Emmys, Outstanding Made for TV Movie (1994) for And the Band Played On and Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special (1989) for Day One. He received nominations for Outstanding Drama Series for Family in 1977, 1978 and 1980 and for Dynasty in 1982.
(edit)
Aaron: If your pilot does something that either sends somebody to jail or to hell, then you know what the pilot is. If your pilot is dealing with someone who just made a terrible mistake and is sorry for it, then you don't know if your pilot is going to work or not. It's really crazy.
(edit)
Aaron: I'm basically a writer. I never wanted to be a producer. Dick Powell made me a producer, because I was writing his host spots on Zane Grey Theater.
(edit)
Aaron: I think you reach so many people, and so many different people. We have to be very careful of that out here in Hollywood because if you saw the list of parties we are invited to here, and if you scan that list, it's always that higher, higher echelon, you never really get to know real people.
(edit)
Aaron: I think there are two ways to depict a family. One is what it's really like, and one is what the audience would like it to be. Between you and me, I think the second one is what I would prefer.
(edit)
Aaron: I think our shows are entertaining. I think that they're clean. I hate to talk about that, but, boy, where some of the shows are going today, it's amazing. I'm ashamed of my wife seeing some of these shows, much less making them. I don't even want the cast of my shows to see some of those other shows.
(edit)
Aaron: I think our business is really different. I don't know, there's no way to express it.
(edit)
Aaron: I don't travel by airplane. I mean that because when my wife, my kids and I travel on trains or boats, we meet a lot of people and we talk to them.
(edit)
Aaron: I don't remember a drama on TV that had shown a couple could be married but still love each other very much, spend every day as if they were still on their honeymoon, be sensuous, and have fun together.
(edit)
Aaron: I can kid around and say it's entertainment and everybody likes our shows, but we have something else at stake. This is a chance to teach-not preach, teach.
(edit)
Aaron: Family, many, many years ago, was a simple, correct family, and now I think if you're going to do a family show, you'd better make sure your characters are liked by the families watching, that's it. And now it's more about issues that confront families and their kids, and those are very important issues.
(edit)
Aaron: Even a cop show was an anthology. I miss that, I miss it a lot. I don't know why they're not successful anymore; people just won't try them.
(edit)
Aaron: As a writer, I was writing for the Jane Wyman Theater, that was an anthology, and The Dick Powell Show was an anthology, and then the Danny Thomas Hour, and then Playhouse 90.
(edit)
Aaron: A show that no one thought had a chance has just finished its fifth year: Charmed. I think it's tougher for the younger networks, so I think they have a little more patience for the sake of the show. But who knows?
(edit)
Aaron: I must tell you, I haven't done the drug problem that is faced by cops and people on the border. It's a hard show to do, but I think it's going to say a lot about drugs and the problems related to them. I just hope people can watch it, it's a pretty strong show.
(edit)
Aaron: I love my wife, she deserves anything and everything.
(edit)
Aaron: I love giving time to gay actors, gay characters; I think it's wrong to say, You don't exist. I like diversity in shows, and I must say, the networks are really selling that, finally. African Americans, Latinos, diversity, diversity. Even love scenes, I'm pleasantly surprised that we've come that far.
(edit)
Aaron: But, I don't know, the violence, I can't even talk about. We don't do a lot of violent shows. When I started in television, breaking a pencil was a violent act.
(edit)
Aaron: Wow, you're saying better things than I am, and this is my interview!
(edit)
Aaron: On a gay situation, I think we set a trend too. I remember how Blake Carrington in Dynasty hated his son being gay. And the son finally moved out and Blake was mean to his son's lover, but in the last show, I'll never forget that, Blake visited the apartment his son and his lover were living in. They were expecting trouble and hell, but nothing happened and he kissed his son.
(edit)
Aaron: I think detail is just paying attention. Would she say that? Would he say that? Why is he saying that? That's the detail.
(edit)
Person Vital Stats
Person
Score: 9.3 Superb 30 votes
Score: 9.3 Superb 30 votes
This content requires Macromedia Flash Player 7 or higher. Get Flash
| Track This Person | |
| Review This Person | Contribute |
