The Candy & Tori Spelling saga; the real 'Beverly Hills 90210 'begins

By Stone Martindale Jul 7, 2006, 22:37 GMT

Tori Spelling © Scott Alan / Photorazzi

Aaron Spelling couldn’t have produced it better; the family feud over billions begins.
What is at stake: The legendary TV producer's half-billion estate.

Spelling was the creator of many of the world’s favorite television series. The Love Boat, Dynasty, Fantasy Island, and Beverly Hills 90210 – the list seems endless.

Aaron Spelling has recently departed, yet his contentious family is left behind, and it isn’t pretty by any accounts.

Spelling died, leaving Candy, his widow, and kids Tori and Randy as heirs to the kingdom.  Tori was estranged from the family, then inexplicably went public with a much criticized interview in US Weekly, claiming that she saw her dad for the first time in nine months only two weeks before he died.

Tori said that mom was spending time with a “male friend” and not keeping her apprised of dad’s declining health, that she found out her father died only when a friend text messaged her, and that her mother and brother left her name off the official family statement released after Aaron passed.

Like something out of Dynasty, a public fight between mother and daughter ensued. 

Of course, there is also the money.

Aaron Spelling’s Horatio Alger story was something his family never had to endure. The son of immigrants tried his hand at acting, ultimately becoming a Hollywood mogul, Tori, raised in extreme luxury, was, some say, handed a career in acting.

Us Weekly’s Ken Baker reports, “I’m told that Candy Spelling will be the executor of the estate. Tori will get some money, but when it comes to discretionary money, Tori’s mother is cutting her out and Tori is very upset about it.”

Candy Spelling is reportedly trying to sell the house for $150 million dollars. A claim she vehemently denies.  Later this month Spelling’s will is to be filed. 

The ending will remain to be seen, but it will be an interesting one, and Spelling couldn’t have produced a more cliff-hanging finale.