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Randy Spelling, son of prolific producer Aaron Spelling, is choosing a life of obscurity. Randy tried his hand in Hollywood but after spiraling into addiction he went to rehab in 2006. He gained a new lease on life. Randy said in an interview with Page Six that when he left rehab he realized that if he stayed in Hollywood he would be dead. Randy also said that he had put so much pressure on himself to match his father’s legacy that he didn’t know what he wanted to do with his own life until a friend suggested he become a life coach. Whereas his sister, Tori, has been battling to stay relevant while racking up debts that she can’t pay, Randy seems to be satisfied with living a normal life in Oregon. Below are a few excerpts from Page Six:

So why did the son of one of the biggest names in Hollywood turn his back on Tinseltown? It all started in rehab following his father’s death in 2006.

“I was just trying to fill myself in any way I could and started filling myself with the wrong things and got caught up in addiction,” he explained. “So I went to rehab and after I thought, ‘Gosh, I have this second chance, who do I want to be? What makes me happy? What am I here for?’ And all these existential questions that I really set out on a path to answer.”

A friend suggested life coaching and Randy was intrigued.

“It was just, ‘Hey this sounds really interesting,’ so I did it and it was suggested I work with people and I started doing that and I realized, ‘I think I’m good at it,’ and it just propelled me to do more,” he said.

That decision has led to a 13-year career in the field working with clients from all walks of life.

“I’ve been on both sides of the coin from having everything to being very concerned, ‘How I am going to make this happen for my family?’ and I can tell you happiness doesn’t come from money,” he continued. “It can bring less stress and afford more choice but I work with people who have very little and CEOs and I can tell you happiness has nothing to do with money.”

[From Page Six]

I understand Randy. Randy’s father Aaron cast a long shadow on his children and they struggled under it. I was floored to learn that Aaron left most of his money to his wife and only left his children $800k each. I think it was his way of forcing them to figure their lives out on their own. Although Randy took a hard tumble after his father’s death, I believe that he has gotten himself back on track and is content. I love that he became a life coach after leaving Hollywood. The fact that he became what he needed is not unironic. Unfortunately, I do not think Tori will grow out of her overspending, running up debt phase. It almost seems like Tori married a man who enables her delusional lifestyle.

What struck me the most about Randy was when he said he would be dead if he stayed in Hollywood. I makes me wonder how toxic the Hollywood environment is. We have seen several people go off the deep end after growing up in Hollywood and failing to adjust into adulthood or having toxic parents that take advantage of them. So I am glad that Randy is living a normal-ish life but I wonder if there is any resentment toward his father for not leaving them a fair share of the inheritance? My thing is, I think what Aaron did to his children was cruel. He raised them up in a very lavish lifestyle, didn’t teach them the value of money nor give them the skills they would need to survive. Then when he died, he made his kids take care of themselves. Like who does that? I’d be hella mad, honestly. I checked out Randy’s site and he doesn’t list his prices for consultation but I am sure it’ll cost a pretty penny. It looks like Randy has found his bliss in spite of his circumstances. And as Randy said, “Money can give you comfort and better choices but it can’t buy you happiness.” Amen to that.

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