Aaron Spelling (April 22, 1923 – June 23, 2006) was an American film and television producer. As of 2009, Spelling's company holds the record as the most prolific television writer, with 218 producer and executive producer credits.

Spelling was born in Dallas, Texas, to Pearl (née Wald) and David Spelling (originally Spurling), Jewish emigrants from Russia and Poland, respectively. His father was a tailor. Spelling also has a brother named Daniel Spelling living in San Francisco, who appeared on Tori Spelling's television show Tori And Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. At the age of eight, Spelling lost the use of his legs psychosomatically due to trauma caused by constant bullying from his schoolmates, and was confined to bed for a year. During this time he read a vast number of books, which stimulated his imagination.

Spelling attended Forest Avenue High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He then attended Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1949. He married actress Carolyn Jones in 1953, and they moved to California. They divorced in 1964. With his second wife, Candy Gene (née Marer), whom he married in 1968, he had two children, Randy Spelling and Tori Spelling.