Aaron Spelling
The prolific television mogul whose lavish, addictive series defined entire eras of prime-time entertainment and made him Hollywood's richest producer.
1923–2006 (age 83)·American film and television producer·Birthday: April 22·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Aaron Spelling didn't just make television shows; he manufactured American fantasies. From a modest background in Dallas, he built an empire on understanding what audiences craved: glamour, escapism, and melodrama. His production company became a hit factory, churning out defining series like 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Dynasty,' and 'Beverly Hills, 90210' that captured the cultural zeitgeist. Spelling had a Midas touch for spotting marketable concepts, transforming prime-time into a landscape of wealthy oil families, teen angst in sunny California, and supernatural sisters. He operated from the largest private residence in Los Angeles, a testament to his success, and his shows, often criticized by critics for being fluffy, were undeniably influential, shaping fashion, slang, and viewing habits for generations.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Aaron was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aaron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Aaron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Died at 83
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Holds the Guinness World Record for the most television series produced by an individual.
- Created the iconic teen drama 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' which launched the '90s teen TV boom.
- Produced the hit series 'Dynasty,' a defining show of the 1980s obsession with wealth and power.
- His production company was responsible for the long-running family drama '7th Heaven,' one of the most wholesome shows in TV history.
Did You Know?
He served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II.
The Spelling Manor, his 56,500-square-foot home in Los Angeles, was the largest private residence in California.
He made a cameo appearance as himself on an episode of 'Beverly Hills, 90210'.
Before his huge success, he sold his car to pay for acting lessons.
“I'm in the business of giving the public what it wants.”
