Spelling made his first appearance as an actor in a film as Harry Williams in "Vicki", directed by Harry Horner, in 1953. That same year, he appeared in the TV series "I Led Three Lives" and "Dragnet" (six episodes, 1953–55). Spelling appeared in episode 112 of "I Love Lucy" ("Tennessee Bound," season 4, 1955) and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" ("Breakdown", 1955). He continued to appear in films and TV (often uncredited) over 25 times by 1957, appearing briefly as an actor in 1963, 1995, and 1998 (all uncredited.)