James Kellem
JK
Quick Stats
Literary & Talent Agent
A-List Client Roster
Major Studio Partnerships
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."
← Back to Board MembersCareer Journey
Early Career
CMA (now ICM) - New York
Started his career at CMA in the New York Television Variety Department, where he was part of the team that packaged many network specials and signed notable clients including Bette Midler and Robert Klein.
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. The company also produced an Emmy Award-winning Lily Tomlin Special for CBS.
APA Years
Senior Vice President & Partner
Joined the Agency For The Performing Arts (APA) as Senior Vice President and partner, where he was involved in major signings and packaged television series that became cultural phenomena and blockbuster films.
Present
JKA Literary + Talent Agency
Founded his own company, JKA Literary + Talent Agency Inc., where he represents top-tier talent and continues to package and sell major television series and motion pictures across all platforms.
Notable Clients
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
JKA Literary + Talent Agency
JKA
Founded by James Kellem, JKA Literary + Talent Agency Inc. represents top-tier talent across television, film, and digital platforms. The agency is known for its personalized approach to talent representation and its ability to package successful projects that resonate with audiences worldwide.
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
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.
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.
His role at DDP represents the next evolution of his career—applying decades of entertainment industry expertise to create sustainable revenue streams and economic development opportunities for communities through strategic entertainment partnerships and content creation.