[5] His father worked as a tailor and changed his surname from Sperling (German for Sparrow) to Spelling after emigrating to the United States.

[9][10] At the age of eight, Spelling psychosomatically lost the use of his legs due to trauma caused by constant anti-semitic bullying from his schoolmates, and was confined to bed for a year.

[11] After attending Forest Avenue High School in Dallas, he served in the United States Army Air Corps as a pilot during World War II.

)[17] He guest-starred in 1954 as a dogcatcher in the premiere episode of the CBS situation comedy, Willy, starring June Havoc as a young lawyer in New Hampshire, who later relocates to New York City to represent a vaudeville troupe.

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.

[19] The show was the first success for Spelling and pioneered the multiple guest star format, later seen on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

[22] 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[23][24] and its rented space on Desilu Productions' Gower lot.

Beginning in 1965, Spelling began producing successful television shows including The Mod Squad, The Rookies, Family, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Dynasty, Beverly Hills, 90210 (which starred his daughter Tori), Melrose Place, 7th Heaven, Charmed, Jane's House and Sunset Beach.

The game, a modified version of Data East's Lethal Weapon 3 table, has since appeared publicly at collector's expos.

[40] On June 23, 2006, Spelling died at The Manor, his estate in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, from complications of a stroke he suffered five days prior.

[43] A private funeral was held several days later, and Spelling was entombed in a mausoleum in Culver City's Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.