E. Duke Vincent, Longtime Aaron Spelling Partner, Has Died at 91

Veteran TV producer and author E. Duke Vincent has died at the age of 91. Viewers may not have known his face, but they likely recall seeing his name alongside his producing partner, the late Aaron Spelling, on the credits of shows like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210 for years.

E. Duke Vincent: In Memoriam

According to Deadline, Vincent passed away at the age of 91 in Montecito, Calif. No cause of death was given. Vincent’s death was confirmed to the news outlet by his wife, actress Pamela Hensley (Matt Houston; Buck Rogers in the 25th Century).

Vincent was born Edward Michael Ventimiglia on April 30, 1932, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He became an aviator in the Navy, later joining The Blue Angels. He flew the F8F-8P and filmed the aerial shots for the NBC series The Blue Angels. After exiting the military, he produced a series of documentaries titled Man In Space.

While in Hollywood, he met Danny Thomas (Make Room for Daddy) and Sheldon Leonard (the TV producer whose first and last names were used for roommates Sheldon and Leonard on The Big Bang Theory). Vincent wrote a spec script for the two, which led to working on their next series titled Good Morning World. Next, he became a producer on Gomer Pyle: USMC.

Vincent met Aaron Spelling in 1977 and began teaming up with him the following year. For the next three decades, the two brought to life 43 (!) TV series including Dynasty, Matt Houston, The Colbys, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, Charmed, and the miniseries Jackie Collins’ Hollywood Wives, Day One, and And the Band Played On.

The producer dipped his toes into the daytime waters when he co-executive produced along with Spelling the short-lived Sunset Beach on NBC, which ran from 1997-99. Spelling appeared on the series playing “Vincent Duke,” a likely nod to his producing pal.

Vincent authored four novels: Mafia Summer, Black Widow, The Strip, and The Camelot Conspiracy. Vincent is survived by his wife, Pamela Hensley Vincent. Before his marriage to Hensley, Vincent had been wed to Dian Parkinson (a model for The Price is Right) and Sandra Carol Freeman, with whom he had two children.

Soap Hub sends sincere condolences to Hensley and Vincent’s family and friends at this difficult time.