Candy Spelling Biography: Age, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Books, Broadway Shows

Carole Gene Spelling, professionally known as Candy Spelling, is an American author, theater producer, and philanthropist celebrated for her New York Times bestselling memoirs Stories from Candyland and Candy at Last, which offer intimate glimpses into her life with television mogul Aaron Spelling and her reinvention as a Broadway powerhouse.

Married to Aaron from 1968 until his death in 2006, she co-managed their 56,500-square-foot Spelling Manor and raised two children who became Hollywood fixtures.

Spelling’s producing credits include Tony-winning revivals like The Color Purple and ongoing hits such as Moulin Rouge! The Musical, blending her storytelling prowess with a commitment to the arts and causes like children’s education and animal welfare.

Profile

• Full Name: Carole Gene Spelling
• Stage Name: Candy Spelling
• Born: 20 September 1945
• Age: 80 years old
• Birthplace: Beverly Hills, California
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Author, Theater Producer, Philanthropist
• Height: 1.67m
• Parents: Merritt Marer and Augusta Marer
• Siblings: Anthony Marer
• Spouse: Howard Frederick Leveson (m. 1963–1964), Aaron Spelling (m. 1968–2006)
• Children: Tori Spelling, Randy Spelling
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $600 million

Early Life and Education

Carole Gene Spelling was born on September 20, 1945, in Beverly Hills, California, to Merritt Marer, a furniture store chain founder, and Augusta Marer.

She grew up with an older brother, Anthony Marer, in an affluent Jewish family that emphasized creativity and community.

Spelling attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in 1963, and briefly studied at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles before forgoing further formal education to pursue early marriage and family life.

Her ethnicity is Ashkenazi Jewish, and her religious practices remain unknown.

Career

Candy Spelling stepped into the public eye in the 1960s through brief modeling and dollhouse design ventures, but her professional stride began after her marriage to Aaron Spelling, where she quietly supported his production empire while nurturing her own writing aspirations.

Early recognition came from co-managing their iconic Spelling Manor and appearing in family-oriented TV spots, leading to her 2009 autobiography Stories from Candyland, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and chronicled Hollywood anecdotes from her life as a producer’s wife.

These initial forays into authorship and media built her voice, blending personal memoir with cultural commentary that resonated with readers seeking insider glamour.

Spelling’s producing career ignited in 2010 with her Broadway debut on Promises, Promises, starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth, which garnered four Tony nominations and marked her transition from behind-the-scenes supporter to hands-on theater innovator.

She followed with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying featuring Daniel Radcliffe in 2011 and Nice Work If You Can Get It in 2012, earning further Tony nods, before her crowning achievement: co-producing the 2016 revival of The Color Purple, which swept Tonys including Best Revival of a Musical.

Her memoir Candy at Last in 2014 captured this evolution, while HGTV specials like Selling Spelling Manor (2012) and Beyond Spelling Manor (2013) showcased her entrepreneurial flair in real estate storytelling.

Candy Spelling sustains her influence through ongoing Broadway ventures, including Moulin Rouge! The Musical since 2019 and recent credits like MJ and Suffs, where her investments champion diverse narratives and female-led stories.

Philanthropic board roles at American Humane and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation amplify her legacy, funding arts education and animal welfare initiatives.

Her blend of authorship, production, and giving shapes a blueprint for reinvention, mentoring emerging talents in theater and inspiring women to claim space in entertainment’s grand stage.

Social Media

Candy Spelling does not have any active social media accounts.

Personal Life

Candy Spelling married Howard Frederick Leveson in 1963, divorcing after a year, before wedding Aaron Spelling in 1968, a union that lasted until his 2006 death and produced daughter Tori (born 1973) and son Randy (born 1978).

With seven grandchildren from her children, she cherishes grandmother duties, often sharing quiet joys like family gatherings amid past strains, particularly with Tori.

Filmography

• Selling Spelling Manor (2012)
• Beyond Spelling Manor (2013)
• Promises, Promises (2010)
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011)
• Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012)
• After Midnight (2013)
• The Color Purple (2016)
• Moulin Rouge! The Musical (2019)

Net Worth

Candy Spelling has an estimated net worth of $600 million.

Her fortune largely traces to inheriting nearly all of Aaron Spelling’s estate upon his 2006 death, including vast syndication royalties from hits like Beverly Hills, 90210 and Dynasty.

Real estate savvy, from selling Spelling Manor for $85 million in 2011 to her Century City holdings, bolsters her portfolio alongside Broadway producing fees and book sales from bestsellers like Stories from Candyland.