Aaron Spelling

Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 – June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's company 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. Spelling was born in Dallas, Texas, to Pearl (née Wald) and David Spelling (originally Spurling), a tailor, who were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland, respectively. Spelling also has a brother named Daniel Spelling who lived in San Francisco, who appeared on daughter Tori Spelling's television show Tori And Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. Daniel Spelling died in 2009. At the age of eight, Spelling lost the use of his legs psychosomatically due to trauma caused by constant bullying from his schoolmates, and was confined to bed for a year. During this time he read a vast number of books, which stimulated his imagination. Spelling attended Forest Avenue High School. He served in the United States Armed Forces. He then attended Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1949, where he was a cheerleader. He married actress Carolyn Jones in 1953, and they moved to California.