Aaron Spelling life and biography

Aaron Spelling was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's eponymous production company Spelling Television holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits. Forbes ranked him the 11th top-earning dead celebrity in 2009.

The son of Polish Jewish immigrants, Spelling served in the United States Army Air Force as a war correspondent during World War II and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1949. He entered Hollywood as a script writer and actor, working for Dick Powell’s FourStar Productions during the 1950s.

After forming Thomas-Spelling Productions with Danny Thomas, Spelling produced several successful television shows, including The Mod Squad, The Rookies and Charlie's Angels. In 1976, he released the hit ABC movie The Boy in the Plastic Bubble starring a young John Travolta. In 1972, he created Aaron Spelling Productions, which went public in 1986 as Spelling Entertainment.

Spelling remains television’s most prolific producer primarily known for escapist entertainment. Among his many successes are some of television’s most seminal series, including Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, Starsky and Hutch, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, Twin Peaks and 7th Heaven. He also produced the HBO miniseries And the Band Played On, which won Spelling his first Emmy Award. He won his second for another TV movie, Day One.

Spelling was married to actress Carolyn Jones from 1953 to 1965. In 1968, he married Carol Jean Marer with whom he had two children, Victoria Davey and Randall Gene, both actors. Spelling was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2001 and died on June 23, 2006 after suffering a severe stroke.

Spelling worked in some capacity on almost 200 productions beginning with the Zane Grey Theatre in 1956. His most recognizable contributions to television include Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, Starsky and Hutch, Family, Hotel, The Rookies, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Vega$, Hart to Hart, The Colbys, T.J. Hooker, Nightingales, Kindred: The Embraced, Sunset Beach, 7th Heaven, Burke's Law, Honey West, The Mod Squad, S.W.A.T. and Charmed His company also co-produced the David Lynch series Twin Peaks (although Spelling himself was not directly involved in its production).

He also produced the HBO miniseries And the Band Played On, based on Randy Shilts's bestseller. The miniseries won an Emmy Award, Spelling's first.

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