Candy Spelling

Carole Gene "Candy" Spelling(néeMarer; born September 20, 1945) is an American author, theater producer, and philanthropist.She was married toAaron Spellingfrom 1968 until his death in 2006.
Carole Gene Marer was born inBeverly Hills, California, to Augusta (née Rosen) and Merritt Marer, and grew up in aJewishhome. She has an elder brother, Anthony Marer (born July 24, 1942).Her father was a salesman who founded a chain of furniture stores. Although initially successful, the chain failed as a result of overexpansion.She attendedBeverly Hills High SchoolandChouinard Art Institutein Los Angeles.
Spelling's autobiography,Stories from Candyland, released in March 2009, hitThe New York Timesbest seller listtwo weeks after publication.Her memoir,Candy at Last, was published byWileyin May 2014.She has written forTMZand theHuffington Post,among others.
In December 2011 and January 2012, Spelling produced and starred inSelling Spelling Manor,a two-episode special for HGTV that documented the process of moving from and sellingher 123-room, 56,500 square foot home.  In 2013,  she produced and starred inBeyond Spelling  Manor,  a three-episode series about the construction of her subsequent residence, a  $35 million condominium, and her search for an apartment in New York City.  The series also aired on HGTV.
Spelling began producing theater on Broadway in 2010.  Her first co-production,Promises, Promises, starredSean HayesandKristin Chenowethand was nominated for four Tony Awards.  Her second Broadway show,How to Succeed in Business Without Really Tryingopened withDaniel Radcliffein the lead role.  In 2012, she producedNice Work If You Can Get It,  which was nominated for 10 Tony Awards and won for Featured Actor (Michael McGrath) and Featured Actress (Judy Kaye).  2013'sAfter Midnight,  based on Duke Ellington's years at theCotton Club, was nominated for seven Tony Awards withWarren Carlylewinning for Outstanding Choreography.
Spelling went on to produceThe Color Purple, the winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.Cynthia Erivo, who portrayed the character Celie, won the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical.In 2018, her production credits includedThe Iceman Cometh,  which starredDenzel Washingtonand received eight Tony Award nominations; the revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical,Carousel, which received Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Lindsay Mendez) and Best Choreography (Justin Peck); andThree Tall WomenbyEdward Albee, which earned Tony Awards forLaurie Metcalf(Featured Actress) andGlenda Jackson(Lead Actress).
In 2012 Spelling was named to the board of directors ofAmerican Humane, an animal welfare organization. She was named vice chair of the board in 2015.She is a member of the UCLA Health System Board,a member of the board of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, and a founding board member of the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.She helped to expand Centro De Niños, downtown Los Angeles daycare center for underprivileged families, and served for 10 years as a Board of Governors Member of LA's Best, an after-school enrichment program for children in need.She was honored for her public service by  the President's Council of Service and Civic Participation.
She married producer and screenwriter Aaron Spelling in 1968. The couple had two children: daughterVictoria Davey ("Tori")(born 1973) and sonRandy Gene Spelling(born 1978). They appeared in several of Aaron's productions, most notably inBeverly Hills, 90210.She has seven grandchildren, two from Randy and five from Tori.
In 2009, three years after her husband's death, Spelling put their Holmby Hills mansion on the market for $150 million. It was the most expensive residential listing in the United States at the time.It was sold toPetra Ecclestonefor $85 million in 2011.