Board Member

James Kellem: Founder & Lead Agent at JKA Literary + Talent Agency

Literary & Talent Agent

James Kellem is a distinguished literary and talent agent with decades of experience representing A-list talent and packaging major television series and motion pictures. As founder of JKA Literary + Talent Agency, he has been instrumental in launching careers and creating some of television's most successful shows, including "Home Improvement," "24," and "Moesha."

Quick Stats

Literary & Talent Agent

Roster

A-List Client Roster

Partnerships

Major Studio Partnerships

Career Journey

From CMA to JKA Literary + Talent Agency

1
Early Career — CMA (now ICM), New York
Started his career at CMA in the New York Television Variety Department, packaging network specials and signing notable clients including Bette Midler and Robert Klein.
2
Mid-Career — Management/Production Company
Left ICM to move to Los Angeles and start a management/production company, participating in the management of Lily Tomlin, Leslie Ann Warren, John Kay and Steppenwolf, and Robin Williams. Produced an Emmy Award-winning Lily Tomlin Special for CBS.
3
APA Years — Senior Vice President & Partner
Joined the Agency For The Performing Arts (APA) as Senior Vice President and partner, involved in major signings and packaging television series that became cultural phenomena and blockbuster films.
4
Present — JKA Literary + Talent Agency
Founded his own company, JKA Literary + Talent Agency Inc., representing top-tier talent and continuing to package and sell major television series and motion pictures across all platforms.

Notable Clients

A-List Roster

Jimmy Fallon

Late-night television host and comedian

Jim Carrey

A-list actor and comedian

Adam Sandler

Comedy superstar and producer

Tiffany Haddish

Star of "Girls Trip" and comedy sensation

Roseanne Barr

Television icon and stand-up comedian

Ralph Farquhar

Creator of "Moesha," "The Parkers," and "Real Husbands of Hollywood"

Jussie Smollett

Star of "Empire" series

Meagan Tandy

Star of "Batwoman" series

Michael Gleason

Creator of "Remington Steele" and Hallmark movies

Mark Dacascos

Star of "Hawaii Five-O," "John Wick," and "Iron Chef America"

Shin Koyamada

Star of "The Last Samurai" and "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior"

Stan Daniels

Co-creator of "Taxi," Emmy-winning writer and producer

Major Projects

Major Television & Film Projects

Television Series

"Home Improvement," "24," "Roc," "The Single Guy," "Moesha," "The Parkers," "Real Husbands of Hollywood," "Even Stevens," "Arliss," "Roseanne"

Major Motion Pictures

"A Few Good Men," "The Ninja Turtles 2," "O," "How High," "The Amati Girls," "Cliffhanger," "Vampires 2," "Halloween 3"

Recent Productions

"Moms" starring Keke Palmer, "The Fever" (Amazon), "Whose Got Jokes" (BET), "Big Black Comedy Show," "Lovewrecked"

Studio Collaborations

"Meet the Robinsons" (Disney), "Wendy Wu" (Disney), "The Boys" (Disney), "I Am Omega" (Asylum Films), "The Last Will" (Regent Films)

Hallmark Channel

"Mystery Wheel" movie series and other Hallmark Channel original productions

Streaming Platforms

"The New Proud Family" series for Disney Plus and various streaming platform original content

Career Achievements

A Career Built on Packaging & Discovery

Network Television Pioneer

Packaged and sold hit series across ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and UPN networks

Emmy Award Winner

Produced Emmy Award-winning Lily Tomlin Special for CBS television

Blockbuster Film Agent

Represented talent in major Hollywood blockbusters generating hundreds of millions in revenue

Comedy Legend Developer

Discovered and developed numerous comedy superstars who became household names

Multi-Platform Success

Successfully adapted to industry changes from broadcast to cable to streaming platforms

Franchise Creator

Helped create and package multiple successful television franchises and film series

"In this business, it's not just about finding talent—it's about understanding the story they want to tell and finding the right platform to tell it. Every client is unique, and every project deserves the perfect match." — James Kellem

Legacy & Impact

James Kellem's career spans the golden age of television through the modern streaming era, making him one of the most experienced agents in Hollywood. His ability to identify talent and package successful projects has resulted in some of television's most beloved and successful series.

From comedy legends like Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler to groundbreaking series like "24" and "Home Improvement," James has consistently demonstrated an eye for talent and projects that resonate with audiences. His work with diverse creators like Ralph Farquhar has helped bring underrepresented voices to mainstream television.

At DDP, James brings this wealth of industry knowledge and relationships to evaluate and develop entertainment components of municipal development projects. His understanding of content monetization, talent management, and project packaging makes him uniquely qualified to assess the entertainment industry aspects of DDP's innovative community development initiatives.

Role at DDP

James Kellem's Role at DDP Corporation

Entertainment Industry Expertise for Community Development

James Kellem's background as a literary and talent agent provides DDP with a unique perspective on how to harness the power of entertainment for community betterment, identifying opportunities to use film productions or talent showcases to revitalize local areas and create jobs.

Strategic Partnerships and Project Packaging

His proven ability to package projects and forge strategic partnerships is directly applicable to DDP's goal of creating multifaceted community development ventures, securing collaborations with studios, networks, and streaming platforms.

Monetizing Entertainment for Economic Growth

His proficiency in content monetization helps DDP transform entertainment concepts into revenue streams that support and expand community initiatives, ensuring projects are engines for local economic growth and job creation.

Meet the Rest of the Board

See how DDP's full leadership team combines entertainment, finance, and development expertise.

View Board Members