Producer Aaron Spelling dies at 83

Aaron Spelling, producer and creator of many of popular television series, died Friday evening. He was at his Los Angeles home with family and friends.

Spelling was survived by his second wife, Candy, daughter Tori and son Randy.

Spelling, 83, had suffered from a stroke Sunday, June 18, according to his publicist Kevin Sasaki.

Many of Spelling's biggest television hits include Charlie's Angels, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, The Love Boat and Starsky and Hutch. Most recently he worked with 7th Heaven and Summerland.

Spelling also produced more than 140 made-for-television movies, making names for Tinsel Town's biggest stars. Both Nick Nolte and John Travolta got their starts working with Spelling on television movies. Spelling had worked exclusively for ABC and credited with the network's rise to status in the 1970s and '80s, E! Online states. Many people referred to the network as "The Aaron Broadcasting Company."

When Spelling arrived in Los Angeles in the 1950s, he was penniless. He began staging and acting in plays, television shows and films to make money.

Forbes Magazine estimated that Spelling's wealth at $300 million by the 1980s. He is considered the truest rags-to-riches antagonist in Hollywood, setting a record of producing more than 3,000 television shows.