History Creator / AaronSpelling

In 1999, Spelling was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most prolific producer of television drama. According to Guinness' calculations, by that time Spelling had produced 3,842 hours of television -- enough to fill about 3½ years of prime time seven nights a week without any reruns. Spelling won two Emmys in his career, and of all his projects, he said he was proudest of ''SeventhHeaven'' with Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks, for its presentation of a family he describes as "not at all dysfunctional". His estate has remained profitable following his death in 2006. Spelling was named to Forbes' list of Top-Earning Dead Celebrities in 2009.

In 1954, he sold his first script to ''Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre''. Spelling also wrote episodes for ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', ''Playhouse 90'', and ''WagonTrain'', among other shows. He also worked minor roles as an actor, including parts in ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'', ''Series/ILoveLucy'' and ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}''. After he wrote his first pilot he became a producer for Four Star Productions, where he created ''The Lloyd Bridges Show'' (1962-63), ''Burke's Law'' (1963-66), ''Honey West'' (1965-66), and helped develop ''The Smothers Brothers Show'' (1967-75).

* ''WagonTrain'': Directed "The Conchita Vasquez Story."

* ''WagonTrain'': Credited for three episodes.

* CopShow: The police shows he has worked on include ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'', ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'', ''Series/{{SWAT}}'', and ''TJHooker''.
* FamilyDrama: His company produced the family dramas ''SeventhHeaven'' and ''Family''.
* SoapOpera and PrimeTimeSoap: His soap opera work includes ''BeverlyHills90210'', ''Series/MelrosePlace'', and ''Series/{{Dynasty}}''.
* TheWestern: Spelling has worked with several WesternSeries, including ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}'', ''WagonTrain'' and ''Johnny Ringo''.

In 1969, Spelling created Spelling Television, originally under the name Aaron Spelling Productions. Three years later, he formed another co-production company with Leonard Goldberg. Spelling took his own company public in 1986 as Spelling Entertainment, later buying the Taft Entertainment Company from Taft Broadcasting, and George A. Romero's Laurel Entertainment. Spelling continued expanding his entertainment holdings, buying Republic Pictures in 1994 – by the time his company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom, it had five main operating units: Republic Pictures served as the home video arm and copyright holder for all the feature films in the Spelling library, TV production companies Spelling Television and Big Ticket Entertainment, TV syndication distributor Worldvision Enterprises, and film production company Spelling Films.

Spelling never quite had the same success in cinema that he did with television, although he did give some early exposure to JuliaRoberts - Spelling produced the film ''Satisfaction'' (one of the few big-screen ventures for Creator/{{NBC}}).

After Powell's death, Spelling left Four Star Television in 1966, forming Thomas-Spelling Productions with Danny Thomas. Their first success was with the television show ''The Mod Squad''. During its five year run, ''The Mod Squad'' earned six Emmy Award nominations, including one for outstanding dramatic series of the 1969-70 season. Spelling and Thomas produced two 1960s series for Walter Brennan, both on ABC: ''The Tycoon''; and ''The Guns of Will Sonnett''. He also began collaboration with associate producer Shelley Hull, who, in addition to ''Mod Squad'', worked with Spelling on ''The Rookies'' and ''CharliesAngels''. Hull also worked with Spelling in 1976 on the successful ABC movie ''Film/TheBoyInThePlasticBubble'', starring a young John Travolta. Spelling directed only once, on "The Conchita Vasquez Story," a 1959 episode of Wagon Train.

Spelling was born in Dallas, Texas. His father was an immigrant from Russia and his mother was an immigrant from Poland. Aaron spelling served in the United States Army Air Forces during WorldWarII. He entertained on a troop ship and eventually wrote for ''Stars and Stripes''. A wound from a sniper left lasting damage to one hand and earned him a Purple Heart. After the war, he attended Southern Methodist University where he won an award for the best original one-act play and was only student to direct a major play in the history of SMU. After graduating in 1950 and spending a few years directing plays in the Dallas area and trying less than successfully to make his way on Broadway, Spelling moved to Hollywood.

* ''TheLoveBoat''

* ''Radio/{{Dragnet}}'': Several minor parts in the 1950's TV version.

* CopShow: The police shows he has worked on include ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'', ''Series/{{SWAT}}'', and ''TJHooker''.

In 1954, he sold his first script to ''Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre''. Spelling also wrote episodes for ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', ''Playhouse 90'', and ''WagonTrain'', among other shows. He also worked minor roles as an actor, including parts in ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''Series/ILoveLucy'' and ''Series/{{Gunsmoke}}''. After he wrote his first pilot he became a producer for Four Star Productions, where he created ''The Lloyd Bridges Show'' (1962-63), ''Burke's Law'' (1963-66), ''Honey West'' (1965-66), and helped develop ''The Smothers Brothers Show'' (1967-75).

* ''BeverlyHills90210''

* ''FantasyIsland''

* ''ILoveLucy'': Gas station attendent.
* ''{{Gunsmoke}}'': Weed Pindle in "The Guitar"

* TheWestern: Spelling has worked with several WesternSeries, including ''{{Gunsmoke}}'', ''WagonTrain'' and ''Johnny Ringo''.

In 1954, he sold his first script to ''Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre''. Spelling also wrote episodes for ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', ''Playhouse 90'', and ''Wagon Train'', among other shows. He also worked minor roles as an actor, including parts in ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''ILoveLucy'' and ''{{Gunsmoke}}''. After he wrote his first pilot he became a producer for Four Star Productions, where he created ''The Lloyd Bridges Show'' (1962-63), ''Burke's Law'' (1963-66), ''Honey West'' (1965-66), and helped develop ''The Smothers Brothers Show'' (1967-75).

After Powell's death, Spelling left Four Star Television in 1966, forming Thomas-Spelling Productions with Danny Thomas. Their first success was with the television show ''The Mod Squad''. During its five year run, ''The Mod Squad'' earned six Emmy Award nominations, including one for outstanding dramatic series of the 1969-70 season. Spelling and Thomas produced two 1960s series for Walter Brennan, both on ABC: ''The Tycoon''; and ''The Guns of Will Sonnett''. He also began collaboration with associate producer Shelley Hull, who, in addition to ''Mod Squad'', worked with Spelling on ''The Rookies'' and ''CharliesAngels''. Hull also worked with Spelling in 1976 on the successful ABC movie ''TheBoyInThePlasticBubble'', starring a young John Travolta. Spelling directed only once, on "The Conchita Vasquez Story," a 1959 episode of Wagon Train.

* ''TheBoyInThePlasticBubble''

Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 – June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer, writer and actor. Aaron Spelling is one of television's most prolific and successful producers of dramatic series and made-for-television films. The InternetMovieDatabase lists [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/ 219 titles which he produced, 18 titles which he wrote, and 28 titles in which he acted.]]

!!Works: For a complete list, see the InternetMovieDatabase [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/ article here]].

* ''{{Dynasty}}''

* SoapOpera and PrimeTimeSoap: His soap opera work includes ''BeverlyHills90210'', ''Series/MelrosePlace'', and ''{{Dynasty}}''.

* CopShow: The police shows he has worked on include ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''Series/StarskyAndHutch'', ''{{SWAT}}'', and ''TJHooker''.

* ''HartToHart''

* ''{{SWAT}}''

Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 – June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer, writer and actor. Aaron Spelling is one of television's most prolific and successful producers of dramatic series and made-for-television films. The InternetMovieDatabase lists [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005455/ 219 titles which he produced, 18 titles which he wrote, and 28 titles in which he acted.]]

Spelling was born in Dallas, Texas. His father was an immigrant from Russia and his mother was an immigrant from Poland. Aaron spelling served in the United States Army Air Forces during WorldWarII. He entertained on a troop ship and eventually wrote for ''Stars and Stripes''. A wound from a sniper left lasting damage to one hand and earned him a Purple Heart. After the war, he attended Southern Methodist University where he won an award for the best original one-act play and was only student to direct a major play in the history of SMU. After graduating in 1950 and spending a few years directing plays in the Dallas area and trying less than successfully to make his way on Broadway, Spelling moved to Hollywood.

In 1954, he sold his first script to ''Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre''. Spelling also wrote episodes for ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'', ''Playhouse 90'', and ''Wagon Train'', among other shows. He also worked minor roles as an actor, including parts in ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''ILoveLucy'' and ''{{Gunsmoke}}''. After he wrote his first pilot he became a producer for Four Star Productions, where he created ''The Lloyd Bridges Show'' (1962-63), ''Burke's Law'' (1963-66), ''Honey West'' (1965-66), and helped develop ''The Smothers Brothers Show'' (1967-75).

Spelling never quite had the same success in cinema that he did with television, although he did give some early exposure to JuliaRoberts - Spelling produced the film ''Satisfaction'' (one of the few big-screen ventures for {{NBC}}).

* FamilyDrama: His company produced the family dramas ''SeventhHeaven'' and ''Family''.

* SoapOpera and PrimeTimeSoap: His soap opera work includes ''BeverlyHills90210'', ''MelrosePlace'', and ''{{Dynasty}}''.

* ''MelrosePlace''

* ''TJHooker''

!!Tropes associate with Aaron Spelling's work

* FamilyDrama: He created family dramas ''SeventhHeaven'' and ''Family''.

* CopShow: The police shows he has worked on include ''{{Dragnet}}'', ''StarskyAndHutch'', ''{{SWAT}}'', and ''TJHooker''.