Aaron Spelling

Aaron Spelling, both as president of Aaron Spelling Productions and in partnership with Spelling/Goldberg Productions, was one of the most successful producers in entertainment history. Spelling's own company produced "The Love Boat," "Matt Houston," "Dynasty" and, in partnership with Goldberg, he is executive producer of "Hart to Hart," "Fantasy Island" and "T.J. Hooker." Spelling was an undergraduate at Southern Methodist University when he won the famed Harvard Award for playwriting two years in a row. Upon graduation he directed plays in the Margo Jones Theatre and the Dallas Little Theatre. His first writing job for television was with "Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater" and later he became the producer of that show. He also produced "The Dick Powell Show," "The June Allyson Show," "Burke's Law" and "Honey West." Spelling formed a partnership with Danny Thomas and together they turned out such shows as "The Danny Thomas Hour," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "The Mod Squad" and six Movies of the Week. Spelling formed his own company in 1969 and produced some 29 Movies of the Week. Later in 1972, he formed a partnership with Leonard Goldberg and they produced many top rated series, including "Charlie's Angels," "Starsky & Hutch," "The Rookies," "S.W.A.T" and "Family." Three television movies he produced for broadcast in 1987 fall were "Male Model," "Don't Go To Sleep" and "Shooting Stars." Also airing that fall were several episodes of his series, "Hotel." For theatrical release he produced "Mr. Mom." Spelling was honored by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America and received five Image Awards from the NAACP. He was honored with the 1983 Humanitarian Award from Retinitis Pigmentosa.