Aaron Spelling, 83; Prolific TV Hitmaker

The Spelling-Goldberg team also made "T.J. Hooker," with William Shatner. The series started on ABC in 1982 and switched to CBS in 1985, airing another two years.

His "Matt Houston" with Lee Horsley as a millionaire private investigator ran on ABC from 1982 to 1985.

There were flops, but they were followed by "Dynasty" (1981 to 1989) about the intrigues and internal disputes of a Denver oil family, starring John Forsythe, Joan Collins and Linda Evans.

Mr. Spelling was also credited with more than 200 made-for-television movies, numerous miniseries and several films for general theatrical release, including "Mr. Mom," with Michael Keaton.

Interspersed with these were critically acclaimed television series such as "Day One" and "And the Band Played On."

Of all his made-for-television movies, which included many by Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel, Spelling was said to be proudest of "The Best Little Girl in the World," a frank and realistic drama about a young woman suffering from anorexia nervosa that was broadcast by ABC in 1981.

But he said, for every one like that, "I did five 'Satan's School for Girls' or 'Hollywood Wives.' "

He helped finance the L.A. production of "Nicholas Nickleby" and " 'night Mother," Marsha Norman's play about suicide. Of "Cracked Up," an ABC drama involving addiction, he said he felt some twinge of responsibility for "Mod Squad" showing drug use as "kind of a fun thing."

When his ABC contract was to expire in 1988 he expressed happiness that he could shop his projects around.

He was described as an obsessive worker, intimately involved in his productions. He lived on an opulent estate once owned by Bing Crosby. He also maintained a stable of thoroughbred horses.

He gave generously to Jewish causes.

His memoir, "Aaron Spelling: A Prime Time Life," was not received kindly by book critics.

One Publishers Weekly reviewer said, "If Spelling's writing works on the tube, it doesn't fly on the printed page. This tame memoir offers little in the way of character shading or social insight."

His marriage to actress Carolyn Jones ended in divorce.

Survivors include his second wife, Carole Marer "Candy" Spelling, whom he married in 1968, and two children from his second marriage, Victoria and Randall.