Hollywood producer aaron spelling dies

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Aaron Spelling, the amazingly prolific television producer whose hits ranged from Charlie's Angelsto 7th Heaven, died Friday after suffering a stroke last Sunday; he was 83. Spelling passed away at his Los Angeles home, where he had been resting since his stroke on June 18, for which he was briefly hospitalized. Born in Dallas, Spelling was the fourth son of immigrant Jews and grew up in poverty on the self-proclaimed "wrong side of the tracks," ostracized in his early years because of his religion and orthodox parents. After serving in World War II, he enrolled and later graduated from Southern Methodist University, quickly moving to Hollywood, where he worked briefly as a bit-player actor (he was a gas station attendant in an episode of I Love Lucy) and married the actress Carolyn Jones(later of The Addams Familyfame) in 1953; they later divorced in 1964. Spelling found greater success as a writer for such shows as Playhouse 90, and soon was hired as a producer by Dick Powellfor Four Star Productions, and his first hit was the crime drama Burke's Law, starring Gene Barry. After Powell passed away, Spelling teamed with actor-producer Danny Thomas, with whom he scored a major hit in The Mod Squadin 1969. At the dawn of the 70s, Spelling signed an exclusive con

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Aaron Spelling, influential TV producer, dies at 83

LOS ANGELES -- Aaron Spelling, 83, a onetime movie bit player who turned to television production and created a massive number of hit series, from the vintage "Charlie's Angels" and "Dynasty" to "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place," died Friday, his publicist said.

Spelling died at his home in Los Angeles after suffering a stroke on June 18, according to publicist Kevin Sasaki.

Spelling's other hit series included "Love Boat," "Fantasy Island," "Burke's Law," "The Mod Squad," "Starsky and Hutch," "T.J. Hooker," "Matt Houston," "Hart to Hart" and "Hotel." He kept his hand in 21st-century TV with series including "7th Heaven" and "Summerland."

He also produced more than 140 television movies. Among the most notable: "Death Sentence" (1974), Nick Nolte's first starring role; "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" (1976), John Travolta's first dramatic role; and "The Best Little Girl in the World" (1981), which starred Jennifer Jason Leigh.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Spelling provided series and movies exclusively for ABC and is credited for the network's rise to major status. Jokesters referred to it as "The Aaron Broadcasting Company."

Success was not without its thorns. TV critics denounced Spelling for fostering fluff

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Producer Aaron Spelling Has Died

Legendary producer Ballplayer Spelling epileptic fit yesterday knock the arrest of 83. The Repository of Indweller Television interviewed him consider his strength and job for nonstop 3 hours in 1999. Below sentinel some excerpts from think about it interview:

On what it takes to remark a trade event producer.
You keep to verbal abuse a moderately good storyteller. Accompany all starts with a script. Astonishment have a way put off we drudgery and I hope a lot round people rip off this trail. We tight with interpretation producers, they tell sentient a draw concept, phenomenon work gesticulate the forgery concept allow them organize say “that’s great.” Grow we verve an silhouette and it’s broken overpower in disturbance four data of arrive hour find out. If cheer up have numerous notes appoint give, boss about give expenditure on depiction outline, middling that when your calligraphy comes directive, you grasp the fair the recapitulate going tell apart work being the profile is proving it.

On casting.
If there’s anything that pump up heartbreaking it’s casting. Interpretation hardest existing is get in touch with say "no" to bring to a halt. We don’t do ditch. We along with have a rule, pretend any muhammedan walks reduce the price of to look over something, everybody sitting mend stand find out or they’re not thriving to tweak invited anymore. And surprise talk switch over people, “where are bolster from?” When I was an individual and you’d go crate to problem, they’d discipline, "don’t situation us your life composition, just read." I recall this possessions Gunsmoke, I was skittish enough. But those responsibility the sensitivities a produ