View source for Aaron Spelling

{{short description|American film and television producer (1923–2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Aaron Spelling
| image              = Aaron Spelling.jpg
| caption            = Spelling in 1985
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1923|4|22}}
| birth_place        = [[Dallas]], Texas, U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2006|6|23|1923|4|22}}
| death_place        = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| resting_place      = [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]]
| alma_mater         = [[Southern Methodist University]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film producer|television producer|actor}}
| years_active       = 1953–2006
| known_for          = Founder of [[Spelling Television]]
| spouse             = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Carolyn Jones]]|1953|1964|end=div}}
* {{marriage|[[Candy Spelling|Candy Marer]]|1968}}
}}
| children           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Tori Spelling]]
* [[Randy Spelling]]
}}
}}
'''Aaron Spelling''' (April 22, 1923{{Snd}}June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer and occasional actor. His productions included the television series ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]'' (1976–1980); ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' (1976–1981); ''[[The Love Boat]]'' (1977–1986); ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' (1979–1984); ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' (1981–1989); ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' (1990–2000); ''[[Melrose Place]]'' (1992–1999); ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'' (1996–2007); and ''[[Charmed]]'' (1998–2006). He also served as producer of ''[[The Mod Squad]]'' (1968–1973), ''[[The Rookies]]'' (1972–1976) and ''[[Sunset Beach (TV series)|Sunset Beach]]'' (1997–1999).

Through his production company [[Spelling Television]], Spelling holds the record as the most prolific television producer in American television history, with 218 producer and executive producer credits.<ref>{{IMDb name|id=0005455|name=Aaron Spelling }}</ref><ref name="SMH 2005-09">{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html|title=The Great Escape|last=Idato|first=Michael|date=September 19, 2005|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=SMH.com|access-date=February 25, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090130091807/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html| archive-date= January 30, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> ''[[Forbes]]'' ranked him the 11th-highest-earning deceased celebrity in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Matthew |date=October 27, 2009 |title=Top-Earning Dead Celebrities |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/top-earning-dead-celebrities-list-dead-celebs-09-entertainment_land.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613182204/http://www.forbes.com/2009/10/27/top-earning-dead-celebrities-list-dead-celebs-09-entertainment_land.html?boxes=listschannelinsidelists |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |access-date=August 22, 2025 |work=Forbes}}</ref>

==Early life==
Spelling was born in [[Dallas]], Texas. He was the son of David Spelling and Pearl Spelling (née Wald), [[History of the Jews in Russia|Russian Jewish]] immigrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/spelling-aaron |title=Spelling, Aaron |website=[[Encyclopedia.com]] |access-date=February 2, 2019}}</ref> His father worked as a tailor and changed his surname from Sperling (German for Sparrow) to Spelling after emigrating to the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genealogymagazine.com/torispelling.html |title=A Look at Tori Spelling's Family Tree |publisher=Genealogymagazine.com |access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019081952/http://www.genealogymagazine.com/torispelling.html|archive-date=October 19, 2013}}</ref> His mother had previously been married to Sam Seltzer, who was murdered in 1911, the year before she married Spelling's father.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/94867904 "Keller Overand Stands Charged With Killing Sam Seltzer"]. ''Houston Daily Post''. September 27, 1911.</ref> Spelling was the youngest of five children. He had two older brothers, Sam (1916–2001) and Daniel Spelling (1921–2009),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Daniel Spelling Obituary (2009) the Miami Herald|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/herald/name/daniel-spelling-obituary?id=22274747|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Legacy.com}}</ref> and two older half-siblings, Max Seltzer (1907–1975)<ref>Max J. Seltzer obituary. ''The Courier-Gazette'' (McKinney, Texas), 27 Apr 1975, p. 2.</ref>  and Becky Seltzer Giller (1910–1978).<ref>[http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/aaron-spelling.html "AARON SPELLING BIOGRAPHY"]. ''Biography Channel''. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025220713/http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/aaron-spelling.html |date=October 25, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-05-29|title=A Look at Tori Spelling's Family Tree {{!}} GenealogyMagazine.com|url=https://www.genealogymagazine.com/tori-spelling/|access-date=2022-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

At the age of eight, Spelling [[psychosomatic]]ally lost the use of his legs due to [[psychological trauma|trauma]] caused by constant anti-semitic [[bullying]] from his schoolmates, and was confined to bed for a year. He made a full recovery.<ref name="movies.nytimes.com">{{cite web |url= https://movies.nytimes.com/person/112276/Aaron-Spelling/biography |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120626082405/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/112276/Aaron-Spelling/biography |title= Aaron Spelling biography |url-status= dead |department= Movies & TV Dept. |work= [[The New York Times]] |author= Hal Erickson |author-link= Hal Erickson (author) |date= 2012 |archive-date= June 26, 2012}}</ref>

Spelling attended [[Forest Avenue High School]] in Dallas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=<!--none stated--> |title=Old Forest Avenue High alumni celebrate Dallas school’s heritage, look to the future |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2012/10/26/old-forest-avenue-high-alumni-celebrate-dallas-schools-heritage-look-to-the-future/ |access-date=1 September 2025 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=26 October 2012 |language=en}}</ref> During [[World War II]], he served in the [[United States Army Air Forces|United States Army Air Corps]] as an entertainer on a troop ship and a correspondent for ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]''.<ref name="NYTimes"/> In 1949 he graduated from [[Southern Methodist University]], where he was a cheerleader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://smu.edu/newsinfo/stories/aaron-spelling-dies.asp |title=Aaron Spelling and SMU{{Snd}}News and Communications |publisher=Smu.edu |access-date=October 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031103956/http://smu.edu/newsinfo/stories/aaron-spelling-dies.asp|archive-date=October 31, 2013}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:Aaron Spelling TWA ad photo.JPG|thumb|Spelling in 1965]]
Spelling made his first appearance as an actor in a film as Harry Williams in ''[[Vicki (film)|Vicki]]'', directed by [[Harry Horner]], in 1953. That same year, he appeared in the TV series ''[[I Led Three Lives]]'' and ''[[Dragnet (1951 TV series)|Dragnet]]'' (six episodes, 1953–55).<ref name="IMDB-Actor">{{Cite web |title=Aaron Spelling {{!}} Producer, Writer, Actor |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/ |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> Spelling appeared in episode 112 of ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' ("Tennessee Bound", season 4, 1955);<ref name=LucyTennessee/><ref>''[[Nick at Nite]]'s Classic TV Companion'', edited by Tom Hill, copyright 1996 by [[Viacom International]], p. 278</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metv.com/lists/7-surprising-guest-stars-on-i-love-lucy|title=7 surprising guest stars on 'I Love Lucy' |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110112326/https://www.metv.com/lists/7-surprising-guest-stars-on-i-love-lucy |archive-date=2017-11-10}}</ref> in ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' ("Breakdown", 1955);<ref name=IMDB-Actor/> and as Weed Pindle in ''[[Gunsmoke]]''{{'}}s season one, episode 35, "The Guitar" (1956). He continued to appear in films and TV (often uncredited) over 25 times by 1957, appearing briefly as an actor in 1963, 1995 and 1998 (all uncredited.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t8#actor|title=Aaron Spelling at IMDb|work=IMDb}}</ref>

He guest-starred in 1954 as a dogcatcher in the premiere episode of the [[CBS]] situation comedy, ''[[Willy (TV series)|Willy]]'', starring [[June Havoc]] as a young lawyer in [[New Hampshire]], who later relocates to New York City to represent a [[vaudeville]] troupe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822305/|title=First Case|publisher=Internet Movie Data Base|access-date=March 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403213641/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822305/|archive-date=April 3, 2012}}</ref>

Spelling sold his first script "Twenty Dollar Bride" to ''[[Fireside Theatre|The Jane Wyman Show]]'' in 1956. He gained experience as a producer and additional credits as a script writer working for [[Four Star Television]] on the series ''[[Zane Grey Theater]]'', which aired between 1956 and 1961. Of the 149 episodes in that series, he wrote 20 of the teleplays and produced many others. Spelling produced ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' while at Four Star.<ref name=Decades>{{Cite journal| url = https://www.decades.com/lists/10-things-you-never-knew-about-burkes-law| author = | title = 10 things you never knew about 'Burke's Law'| journal = Decades| date = 28 June 2016| accessdate = 3 September 2021| archive-date = July 5, 2022| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220705155935/https://www.decades.com/lists/10-things-you-never-knew-about-burkes-law| url-status = dead}}</ref> The show was the first success for Spelling and pioneered the multiple guest star format, later seen on ''[[The Love Boat]]'' and ''[[Fantasy Island]].'' <ref name=MysteryScene>{{Cite journal| url=https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/article/3031-burkes-law| author = Michael Mallory | title = 'Burke's Law - A weekly whodunit so lighthearted it nearly floated away.'| journal = Mystery Scene| number= 108| publisher= KBS Communications, Inc. 2021 |date =  Winter 2009|accessdate=3 September 2021}}</ref> In 1965, he quit Four Star to set up his own production company with a two-year agreement with [[United Artists Television]] to produce television shows and movies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 25, 1965 |title=Spelling forms own production company |pages=66 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/65-OCR/1965-10-25-BC-OCR-Page-0066.pdf |url-status= |access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref>

Thomas-Spelling Productions was a [[television]] [[production company]] formed by comedian [[Danny Thomas]] and producer Aaron Spelling on April 15, 1966, as a partnership with 24 properties. Thomas continued his existing partnership, T&L Productions, with [[Sheldon Leonard]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Spelling, Thomas join in TV production firm|journal=Broadcasting|date=April 18, 1966|page=10|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1966/1966-04-18-BC.pdf|access-date=August 23, 2017|publisher=Broadcasting Publications}}</ref> The company adapted its name by July 18, 1966, when it announced the financial involvement of ABC with its first show, ''Range'' (later ''Rango''), a half-hour comedy western starring [[Tim Conway]]<ref name=bc>[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1966/1966-12-12-BC.pdf Broadcasting, Dec 12, 1966, pg. 103] "Aaron Spelling -partner with Danny Thomas in Thomas/Spelling Productions and president, Aaron Spelling Productions."</ref><ref>[http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1966/1966-07-18-BC.pdf Broadcasting, Jul 18, 1966, pg. 48]</ref> and its rented space on [[Desilu Productions]]' Gower lot. [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] also picked up another show for a pilot, just in an outline treatment, in ''The Guns of Will Sonnett''.<ref name=bc/> Thomas-Spelling Productions' active operations ended with the last season of ''[[The Mod Squad]]'' in 1972. Spelling formed a new partnership with Leonard Goldberg, Spelling-Goldberg Productions.

Beginning in 1965, Spelling began producing successful television shows including ''[[The Mod Squad]]'', ''[[The Rookies]]'', ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]'', ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'', ''[[Fantasy Island]]'', ''[[The Love Boat]]'', ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'', ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' (which starred his daughter [[Tori Spelling|Tori]]), ''[[Melrose Place]]'', ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'', ''[[Charmed]]'', ''[[Jane's House]]'' and ''[[Sunset Beach (TV series)|Sunset Beach]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/awards|title= Aaron Spelling Awards|work=IMDb}}</ref> Spelling founded [[Spelling Entertainment]] in 1965, alongside partnerships with comedian/actor [[Danny Thomas]] (Thomas-Spelling Productions, 1966–1972), and television/film producer [[Leonard Goldberg]] ([[Spelling-Goldberg Productions]], 1972–1986)<ref>[http://www.biography.com/people/aaron-spelling-9490147 "Aaron Spelling biography"]. ''biography.com''. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114210558/http://www.biography.com/people/aaron-spelling-9490147 |date=November 14, 2013 }}</ref> He produced the unsuccessful [[sitcom]] ''[[The San Pedro Beach Bums]]'' in 1977.

In 2004, Spelling was portrayed in two television movies: [[Dan Castellaneta]] portrayed Spelling in ''[[Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of Charlie's Angels]]'',<ref name="IMDB">{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383915/|title=Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of "Charlie's Angels"|work=IMDB.com|access-date=March 8, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326124256/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383915/|archive-date=March 26, 2012}}</ref> and [[Nicholas Hammond]] portrayed Spelling in television movie ''Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure''.<ref>[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117925790 "Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure"]. ''Variety''. December 28, 2004.</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Carolyn Jones and Aaron Spelling 1960.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|[[Carolyn Jones]] and Spelling in 1960]]Spelling married actress [[Carolyn Jones]] in 1953, when he was 30 and she was 23. They divorced in 1964.<ref name=as>{{cite book |title=A Prime-Time Life: An Autobiography |last1=Spelling |first1=Aaron |last2=Graham |first2=Jefferson |year=1996 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=978-0-312-14268-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/aaronspellingpri00spel/page/51 51] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/aaronspellingpri00spel/page/51 }}</ref> He briefly dated actress [[Jill Haworth]] when he was 42 and she was 19.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Presley Romance Seems to Be Ended |work=Hartford Courant}}</ref> Spelling married the former [[Candy Spelling|Candy Marer]] in 1968 when he was 45 and she was 23. The couple had daughter [[Tori Spelling|Tori]] in 1973 and son [[Randy Spelling|Randy]] in 1978.<ref name=CAO>{{cite book|title=Aaron Spelling|work=Contemporary Authors Online|publisher=Gale|location=Detroit|year=2006}}</ref>

In 1988, Spelling bought the {{convert|6|acre|adj=on}} property of [[Bing Crosby]]'s former Los Angeles mansion.<ref name="sale">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/Spellings_Widow_Fires_Back_at_House_Sale_Reports/3528030|title=Spelling's Widow Fires Back at House Sale Reports|work=Hollywood.com|access-date=July 7, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220180144/http://www.hollywood.com/news/Spellings_Widow_Fires_Back_at_House_Sale_Reports/3528030|archive-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref> He demolished the property and built a 123-room home on the lot in 1991. Known as "[[The Manor (Los Angeles)|The Manor]]," it has {{convert|56500|ft2}} of floor space and as of 2006 was the largest single-family home in Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.etonline.com/news/111552_UK_Heiress_Purchases_Aaron_Spelling_Mansion/index.html|title=UK Heiress Purchases Aaron Spelling Mega Mansion|last=Brown|first=Len|date=June 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018041855/http://www.etonline.com/news/111552_UK_Heiress_Purchases_Aaron_Spelling_Mansion/index.html|archive-date=October 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="HuffingtonPost">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/07/05/aaron-spellings-widow-pu_n_24441.html|title=Aaron Spelling's Widow Puts Infamous Mansion On Market For $150 Million...|work=Huffington Post|access-date=July 5, 2006|first=Katharine|last=Jose|date=July 5, 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060706210014/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/07/05/aaron-spellings-widow-pu_n_24441.html| archive-date= July 6, 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref> Spelling's widow Candy listed the home for sale in 2008 for $150 million.<ref name="HuffingtonPost"/> Heiress [[Petra Ecclestone]] ultimately purchased the property for $85 million in 2011 through a brokered agreement that was developed by Brandon Davis, the brother of [[Jason Davis (actor, born 1984)|Jason Davis]] and grandson of wealthy industrialist [[Marvin Davis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303714704576384013798228854|title=L.A. Mansion for U.K. Heiress|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 13, 2011|first1=Juliet|last1=Chung|first2=Candace|last2=Jackson|date=June 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002135228/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303714704576384013798228854.html|archive-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tmz.com/2011/06/17/petra-ecclestone-candy-spelling-mansion-rick-hilton-realtor-brandon-davis-finders-fee-fleur-de-lys-escrow-paris-hilton-arrested-cocaine-club-purchase/|title=Brandon Davis Key Person in Spelling Mansion Sale |work=[[TMZ]]|access-date=14 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/petra-ecclestone-candy-spelling-aaron-spelling-and-the-spelling-mansion|title=Petra Ecclestone, Candy Spelling, Aaron Spelling and the Spelling Mansion |website=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=14 November 2017|last=Laporte |first=Nicole }}</ref>

In 1992, Candy, Spelling's second wife, commissioned [[pinball]] manufacturer [[Data East]] to produce a personalized table as a gift to Spelling. The game, a modified version of Data East's ''[[Lethal Weapon 3 (pinball)|Lethal Weapon 3]]'' table, has since appeared publicly at collector's expos.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?id=4339| title = Aaron Spelling - The Internet Pinball Database}}</ref>

==Legacy and death==
On September 15, 1978, Spelling was honored with a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] located at 6667 Hollywood Blvd. In 1996, he was inducted into the [[Television Hall of Fame]].

In 1983, he was accorded the [[NAACP]] Humanitarian Award for his monetary donation that permitted a 21-year-old's heart transplant operation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39432167/the_los_angeles_times/|title=NAACP Confers Image Awards|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, California|last=London|first=Michael|date=December 6, 1983|page=66|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In 2001, Spelling was diagnosed with [[oral cancer]].<ref name="OralCancer">{{cite web |url=http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/people/aaron_spelling.htm |title=Prime time patriarch |work=Oralcancerfoundation.org |access-date=July 11, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919060655/http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/people/aaron_spelling.htm |archive-date=September 19, 2013 }}</ref>

On June 23, 2006, Spelling died at [[The Manor (Los Angeles)|The Manor]], his estate in [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles|Holmby Hills]], Los Angeles, from complications of a stroke he suffered five days prior.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/arts/television/24spelling.html |title=Aaron Spelling, Prolific Television Producer, Dies at 83 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=June 24, 2006 | first=Bill | last=Carter | date=June 24, 2006| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110429061237/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/arts/television/24spelling.html| archive-date=April 29, 2011| url-status= live}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111011013452/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/13464007/ns/today-entertainment/t/tv-innovator-aaron-spelling-dies "TV innovator Aaron Spelling dies at 83"]. ''MSNBC''. June 26, 2006.</ref> He also suffered from [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lipton |first=Mike |date=July 10, 2006 |title=After Aaron: Dynasty in Distress |url=https://people.com/archive/after-aaron-dynasty-in-distress-vol-66-no-2/ |access-date=2019-12-31 |website=PEOPLE.com |language=en}}</ref> A private funeral was held several days later, and Spelling was entombed in a mausoleum in Culver City's [[Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery]].

On August 27, 2006, Spelling was posthumously honored at the 58th Annual [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] by former employees [[Joan Collins]], [[Stephen Collins (actor)|Stephen Collins]], [[Heather Locklear]], [[Farrah Fawcett]], [[Kate Jackson]] and [[Jaclyn Smith]].

''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]''{{'}}s May 13, 2007, episode, the last before the series finale, was dedicated to Spelling.<ref name="Dedication">{{cite web |url=http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/04/7th_heaven_will_camdens_reunite_for_last_episode.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070410045712/http://www.tvseriesfinale.com/2007/04/7th_heaven_will_camdens_reunite_for_last_episode.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2007|title=''7th Heaven:'' Will Camdens Reunite for Last Episode? |work=TVSeriesFinale.com |access-date=April 5, 2007 }}</ref> When ''7th Heaven'' ended its run, it was touted by the network as being Spelling's longest-running series and the longest-running "family drama" in American television history.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1028153,00.html |title=10th Season Pick-Up Earns "7th Heaven" A Place In Television History |work=Time Warner |access-date=February 15, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216065622/http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0%2C20812%2C1028153%2C00.html |archive-date=February 16, 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Filmography==
Spelling was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

===Film===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit
|-
|1953 || ''[[Vicki (film)|Vicki]]'' || Harry Williams
|-
| 1960 || ''[[Guns of the Timberland]]'' ||
|-
| 1974 || ''[[California Split]]'' || Executive producer
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Baby Blue Marine]]'' ||
|-
| 1983 || ''[[Mr. Mom]]'' || Executive producer
|-
| 1986 || ''[['night, Mother (film)|'night, Mother]]'' ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1987 || ''[[Surrender (1987 American film)|Surrender]]'' ||
|-
| ''[[Three O'Clock High]]'' || Executive producer
|-
| ''[[Cross My Heart (1987 film)|Cross My Heart]]'' || Executive producer
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Satisfaction (1988 film)|Satisfaction]]'' ||
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Loose Cannons (1990 film)|Loose Cannons]]'' ||
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Soapdish]]'' ||
|-
| 1999 || ''[[The Mod Squad (film)|The Mod Squad]]'' || Executive producer
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Charlie's Angels (2000 film)|Charlie's Angels]]'' || Executive producer
|}

;As writer

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1960 || ''[[Guns of the Timberland]]''
|-
| ''[[One Foot in Hell (film)|One Foot in Hell]]''
|}

;As an actor

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Vicki (film)|Vicki]]'' || Harry Williams ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1954 || ''[[Three Young Texans]]'' || Catur ||
|-
| ''[[Alaska Seas]]'' || The Knifer ||
|-
| ''[[Black Widow (1954 film)|Black Widow]]'' || Mr. Oliver ||rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | <small>Uncredited</small>
|-
| ''[[The Bamboo Prison]]'' || Skinny
|-
|rowspan=5| 1955 || ''[[Wyoming Renegades]]'' || Petie Carver ||
|-  
| ''Mad at the World'' || Willie Hanson ||
|-
| ''[[Target Zero]]'' || Pfc. Strangler ||rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | <small>Uncredited</small>
|-
| ''[[Kismet (1955 film)|Kismet]]'' || Beggar
|-
| ''[[Dementia (1955 film)|Dementia]]'' || Nightclub Patron
|-
| 1957 || ''[[The Spirit of St. Louis (film)|The Spirit of St. Louis]]'' || Mr. Fearless
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1955 || ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' || Gas Station Man || Episode: "Tennessee Bound"
|-
| 1959−60 || ''[[Johnny Ringo (TV series)|Johnny Ringo]]'' || ||
|-
| 1961 || ''[[The DuPont Show with June Allyson]]'' || ||
|-
| 1959−61 || ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre|Zane Grey Theatre]]'' || ||
|-
| 1961−63 || ''[[The Dick Powell Show]]'' || ||
|-
| 1962−63 || ''[[The Lloyd Bridges Show]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1965 || ''The Decorator'' || Executive producer || Television short
|-
| 1963−66 || ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1965−66 || ''[[Honey West (TV series)|Honey West]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Smothers Brothers Show]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1967 || ''[[Rango (TV series)|Rango]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Off to See the Wizard]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Cricket on the Hearth#Adaptations|Cricket on the Hearth]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1968 || ''[[The Danny Thomas Hour]]'' || ||
|-
| 1967−69 || ''[[The Guns of Will Sonnett]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=5| 1969 || ''[[The Over-the-Hill Gang]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Wake Me When the War Is Over]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Monk (1969 film)|The Monk]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Pigeon (1969 film)|The Pigeon]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Ballad of Andy Crocker]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1969−70 || ''[[The New People]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=11| 1970 || ''[[Carter's Army]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Love War]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Death Valley Days]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[How Awful About Allan]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[But I Don't Want to Get Married!]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Old Man Who Cried Wolf]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Wild Women (1970 film)|Wild Women]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The House That Would Not Die]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Crowhaven Farm]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Run, Simon, Run]]'' || || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1970−71 || ''[[The Young Rebels]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Most Deadly Game]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=12| 1971 || ''[[Love Hate Love]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Yuma (1971 film)|Yuma]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[River of Gold (1971 film)|River of Gold]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Congratulations, It's a Boy!]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Five Desperate Women]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Last Child (film)|The Last Child]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[A Taste of Evil]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[In Broad Daylight (1971 film)|In Broad Daylight]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Death of Me Yet]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Reluctant Heroes]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[If Tomorrow Comes (film)|If Tomorrow Comes]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Trackers (film)|The Trackers]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=8| 1972 || ''[[Two for the Money (1972 film)|Two for the Money]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Daughters of Joshua Cabe]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[No Place to Run (film)|No Place to Run]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Rolling Man]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Bounty Man]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Home for the Holidays (1972 film)|Home for the Holidays]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Every Man Needs One]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=10| 1973 || ''[[A Cold Night's Death]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Snatched (1973 film)|Snatched]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Great American Beauty Contest]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Letters (1973 film)|The Letters]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Bait (1973 film)|The Bait]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Satan's School for Girls (1973 film)|Satan's School for Girls]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Hijack (1973 film)|Hijack!]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Letters from Three Lovers]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Affair (1973 film)|The Affair]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Stone'' || Co-executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1968−73 || ''[[The Mod Squad]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=11| 1974 || ''[[The Death Squad (film)|The Death Squad]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Firehouse (TV series)|Firehouse]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Chopper One]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Girl Who Came Gift-Wrapped]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Cry Panic]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Savages (1974 film)|Savages]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Death Sentence (1974 film)|Death Sentence]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Hit Lady]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Death Cruise]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Only with Married Men]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Fireman's Ball (1974 film)|The Fireman's Ball]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=4| 1975 || ''[[The Daughters of Joshua Cabe#The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return|The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Return]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''The Fireman's Ball'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''[[Murder on Flight 502]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Legend of Valentino]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=6| 1976 || ''[[One of My Wives Is Missing]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Daughters of Joshua Cabe#The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe|The New Daughters of Joshua Cabe]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Death at Love House]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Oath (1976 TV series)#33 Hours in the Life of God|33 Hours in the Life of God]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Oath (1976 TV series)#The Sad and Lonely Sundays|The Sad and Lonely Sundays]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Boy in the Plastic Bubble]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1972−76 || ''[[The Rookies]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1975−76 || ''[[S.W.A.T. (1975 TV series)|S.W.A.T.]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1977 || ''[[Little Ladies of the Night]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Love Boat II]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The San Pedro Beach Bums#|The San Pedro Bums]]'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''[[The San Pedro Beach Bums]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1978 || ''[[Cruise Into Terror]]'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[Wild and Wooly]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Users (film)|The Users]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=6| 1979 || ''[[Friends (1979 TV series)|Friends]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Beach Patrol (film)|Beach Patrol]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Power Within (1979 film)|The Power Within]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Mod Squad#Related productions|The Return of the Mod Squad]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Love's Savage Fury]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The French Atlantic Affair]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1975−79 || ''[[Starsky & Hutch]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1980 || ''[[Waikiki (1980 film)|Waikiki]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Murder Can Hurt You|Murder Can Hurt You!]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Casino (1980 film)|Casino]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[B.A.D. Cats]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1976−80 || ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1981 || ''[[Aloha Paradise]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Best Little Girl in the World]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Sizzle (1981 film)|Sizzle]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1976−81 || ''[[Charlie's Angels]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1978−81 || ''[[Vegas (1978 TV series)|Vegas]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1981−82 || ''[[Strike Force (TV series)|Strike Force]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1982 || ''[[Massarati and the Brain]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Scared Silly'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''[[The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Don't Go to Sleep]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=4| 1983 || ''[[At Ease (TV series)|At Ease]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Shooting Stars (1983 film)|Shooting Stars]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Venice Medical]]'' || Executive producer || Television short
|-
| ''[[Making of a Male Model]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1984 || ''[[Dark Mirror (1984 film)|Dark Mirror]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Velvet (film)|Velvet]]'' || || Television film
|-
| 1977−84 || ''[[Fantasy Island]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1979−84 || ''[[Hart to Hart]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1985 || ''[[Hollywood Wives (miniseries)|Hollywood Wives]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[MacGruder and Loud]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[International Airport (film)|International Airport]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Hollywood Beat]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1982−85 || ''[[Matt Houston]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1984−85 || ''[[Finder of Lost Loves]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Glitter (American TV series)|Glitter]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1986 || ''[[Crossings (miniseries)|Crossings]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Mr. and Mrs. Ryan]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Dark Mansions]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Life with Lucy]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1982−86 || ''[[T. J. Hooker]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1977−87 || ''[[The Love Boat]]'' || Executive producer<hr/>Associate producer ||
|-
| 1985−87 || ''[[The Colbys]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1987 || ''[[Harry's Hong Kong]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Cracked Up]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Hope Division (film)|The Hope Division]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Free Spirit'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1983−88 || ''[[Hotel (American TV series)|Hotel]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1988 || ''[[Nightingales (American TV series)#Production|Nightingales]]'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''[[CBS Summer Playhouse]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''Divided We Stand'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''[[The Loner (film)|The Loner]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=3| 1989 || ''[[Day One (1989 film)|Day One]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Nightingales (American TV series)|Nightingales]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Just Temporary]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1981−89 || ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1988−89 || ''[[HeartBeat (1988 TV series)|HeartBeat]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1990 || ''[[Rich Men, Single Women]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Just Life'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1991 || ''[[Jailbirds (1991 film)|Jailbirds]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Dynasty: The Reunion]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=6| 1992 || ''[[Back to the Streets of San Francisco]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Grass Roots'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Sexual Advances'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[The Heights (American TV series)|The Heights]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[2000 Malibu Road]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Round Table (TV series)|The Round Table]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1993 || ''[[And the Band Played On (film)|And the Band Played On]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[A Stranger in the Mirror]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Gulf City'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=6| 1994 || ''[[Jane's House]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Winnetka Road]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Love on the Run (1994 film)|Love on the Run]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Green Dolphin Beat]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[James A. Michener's Texas|Texas]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Heaven Help Us (TV series)|Heaven Help Us]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1994−95 || ''[[Models Inc.]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Robin's Hoods]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Madman of the People]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Burke's Law (1994 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1995 || ''[[University Hospital (TV series)|University Hospital]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Invaders (miniseries)|The Invaders]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Crosstown Traffic (film)|Crosstown Traffic]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=5| 1996 || ''[[A Season in Purgatory]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Pier 66 (film)|Pier 66]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Malibu Shores]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[After Jimmy]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Kindred: The Embraced]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1996−97 || ''[[Savannah (TV series)|Savannah]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997 || ''[[Pacific Palisades (TV series)|Pacific Palisades]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''Odd Jobs'' || || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 1998 || ''[[Love Boat: The Next Wave]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Buddy Faro]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1999 || ''[[Rescue 77]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Safe Harbor (1999 TV series)|Safe Harbor]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Forbidden Island (TV series)|Forbidden Island]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1992−99 || ''[[Melrose Place]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1997−99 || ''[[Sunset Beach (TV series)|Sunset Beach]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 2000 || ''[[Satan's School for Girls (2000 film)|Satan's School for Girls]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1990−2000 || ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 2000−01 || ''[[Titans (2000 TV series)|Titans]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001 || ''Stop at Nothing'' || || Television film
|-
| ''[[All Souls (TV series)|All Souls]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 2002 || ''Home of the Brave'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Deep Cover'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 2003 || ''[[Queens Supreme]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Kingpin (TV series)|Kingpin]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[The Law and Mr. Lee]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''[[Hotel (American TV series)#Remake|Hotel]]'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| 2003−04 || ''[[10-8: Officers on Duty]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 2004 || ''Silver Lake'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004−05 || ''[[Clubhouse (TV series)|Clubhouse]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''[[Summerland (TV series)|Summerland]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 2005 || ''[[Wanted (2005 TV series)|Wanted]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| ''Hitched'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| ''Crazy'' || Executive producer || Television pilot
|-
| ''Bounty Hunters'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
| 1996−2006 || ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 1998−2006 || ''[[Charmed]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
| 2006 || ''Split Decision'' || Executive producer || Television film
|}

;As writer

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Other notes
|-
|rowspan=2| 1957 || ''[[Fireside Theatre|The Jane Wyman Show]]'' ||Episode: "Twenty Dollar Bride"||
|-
| ''Big-Foot Wallace'' || Television film ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1958 || ''[[Playhouse 90]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Decision (TV series)|Decision]]'' || ||
|-
| ''[[Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse]]'' || ||
|-
| 1957−59 || ''[[Wagon Train]]'' || ||
|-
| 1959 || ''[[The David Niven Show]]'' || ||
|-
| 1959−60 || ''[[Johnny Ringo (TV series)|Johnny Ringo]]'' || ||
|-
| 1956−61 || ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre|Zane Grey Theatre]]'' || ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1962 || ''[[The Dick Powell Show]]'' || ||
|-
| ''Kraft Mystery Theater'' || ||
|-
| 1962−63 || ''[[The Lloyd Bridges Show]]'' || ||
|-
| 1965−66 || ''[[The Smothers Brothers Show]]'' || ||
|-
| 1967−69 || ''[[The Guns of Will Sonnett]]'' || ||
|-
| 1969−70 || ''[[The New People]]'' ||
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Carter's Army]]'' || Television film ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[The Trackers (film)|The Trackers]]'' || Television film ||style="text-align:center;" | <small>Uncredited</small>
|-
| 1974 || ''[[The Rookies]]'' || ||
|}

;As an actor

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1953 || ''[[I Led 3 Lives]]'' || Elevator Operator ||
|-
|rowspan=3| 1954 || ''[[The Lone Wolf (TV series)|The Lone Wolf]]'' || Loran Dane ||
|-
| ''[[Willy (TV series)|Willy]]'' || Homer the dogcatcher ||
|-
| ''[[Treasury Men in Action]]'' || {{N/A}} ||
|-
|rowspan=5| 1955 || ''[[I Love Lucy]]'' || Gas Station Man || episode "Tennessee Bound" (1955)<ref name=LucyTennessee>{{cite web
| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0609335/?ref_=nm_flmg_eps_tt_1
| title = ''I Love Lucy'' episode "Tennessee Bound" S4, E14, aired Jan 24, 1955
| last = 
| first = 
| date = 
| website = 
| publisher = IMDb
| access-date = Feb 11, 2024
| quote = }}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Soldiers of Fortune (TV series)|Soldiers of Fortune]]'' || Charlie Applegood ||
|-
| ''[[The Man Behind the Badge]]'' || Billy ||
|-
| ''[[Fireside Theatre]]'' || Olaf ||
|-
| ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' || Road Worker Convict || Season 1 Episode 7: "Breakdown"
|-
| 1953−55 || ''[[Dragnet (1951 TV series)|Dragnet]]'' || Bruce Marcus<hr/>'Bigs' Donaldson<hr/>Charlie Coleman<hr/>Ollie<hr/>Charles Boyd ||
|-
|rowspan=4| 1956 || ''[[Big Town]]'' || {{N/A}} ||
|-
| ''Crusader'' || Andrew Hock<hr/>Valentino ||
|-
| ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' || Weed Pindle ||
|-
| ''[[The Millionaire (TV series)|The Millionaire]]'' || Max ||
|-
|rowspan=2| 1955−56 || ''[[Studio 57]]'' || Docker<hr/>Olaf ||
|-
| ''[[TV Reader's Digest]]'' || Colonel Dornet<hr/>Ben Williams ||
|-
| 1963 || ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' || Harry Penn ||rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | <small>Uncredited</small>
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' || Executive in Limo
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Sunset Beach (TV series)|Sunset Beach]]'' || Vincent Duke
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Charmed]]'' || Aaron<hr/>Mourner
|}

;Miscellaneous crew

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1957−58 || ''[[Zane Grey Theatre]]'' || Story supervisor ||
|-
| 1982 || ''[[The Renegades (TV series)|The Renegades]]'' || Creative consultant || Television pilot
|}

;Soundtrack

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
| 1956 || ''[[Gunsmoke]]'' || '''Performer:''' ''"Red River Valley"'' ||rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | <small>Uncredited</small>
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Zane Grey Theatre]]'' || '''Writer:''' ''"The Ballad of Dan Case"''
|}

;As director

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Wagon Train]]''
|}

;Thanks

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
|-
| 2006−07 || ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]'' || In memory of<hr/>In loving memory of
|-
| 2012 || ''The Adventures of Dugg & Lemmy'' || Very special thanks
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Award
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Year
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" class="unsortable"| Recipient / Work
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Category
! scope="col" style="width: 8%;" class="unsortable"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
|-
!scope="row" scope="row"| [[Britannia Awards]]
| 1999
| Himself
| Excellence in Television
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1999/britannias/honoree-for-excellence-in-television|title=Honoree for Excellence in Television in 1999|publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" scope="row"| [[GLAAD Media Award]]s
| 1994
| Himself
| [[GLAAD Vanguard Award|Vanguard Award]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://instinctmagazine.com/britney-janet-taylor-more-stars-who-have-won-the-glaad-vanguard-award/|title=Britney, Janet, Taylor & More Stars Who Have Won The GLAAD Vanguard Award|website=[[Instinct (magazine)|Instinct]]|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" scope="row" rowspan="6"| [[Primetime Emmy Awards]]
| [[29th Primetime Emmy Awards|1977]]
| ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="6"| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/aaron-spelling|title=Aaron Spelling|publisher=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]]|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| [[30th Primetime Emmy Awards|1978]]
| ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[34th Primetime Emmy Awards|1982]]
| ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series|Outstanding Drama Series]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[41st Primetime Emmy Awards|1989]]
| ''[[Day One (1989 film)|Day One]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie|Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[46th Primetime Emmy Awards|1994]]
| ''[[And the Band Played On (film)|And the Band Played On]]''
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie|Outstanding Television Movie]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[48th Primetime Emmy Awards|1996]]
| Himself
| Hall of Fame
| {{won|Honoree}}
|-
!scope="row" scope="row"| [[Producers Guild of America Award]]s
| [[11th Golden Laurel Awards|2000]]
| Himself
| [[Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television|Norman Lear Achievement Award]]
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref>{{cite web|last=Keeps|first=David A.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/aaron-spelling-ruled-television-an-823391/|title=When Aaron Spelling Ruled Television: An Oral History of Entertainment's Prolific, Populist Producer|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=September 18, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography}}
*[[Norman Lear]]
*[[David L. Wolper]]
*[[Alan Landsburg]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Aaron Spelling}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html |title=Spelling's final print interview |date=September 2004 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015121834/http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/the-great-escape/2005/09/17/1126750167460.html |archive-date=October 15, 2012}}
* {{IMDb name|0005455}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|aaron-spelling}}

{{Aaron Spelling}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Aaron Spelling
|list =
{{BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards}}
{{GLAAD Vanguard Award}}
{{Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television}}
{{1996 Television Hall of Fame}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spelling, Aaron}}
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[[Category:Spelling family|Aaron]]
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