William Kemp (born May 25, 1977), also known by the stage name Jordan Young, is an American television executive, producer, and casting director. He began his entertainment career as a performer and screenwriter in adult films during the 1990s before shifting into mainstream network television production. He has served as a senior talent executive for global production banners including FremantleMedia and Banijay Studios, and is a co-founder of the talent relations and casting firm Persons of Interest Productions.
Early life and education Kemp was born in Montana to a multiracial family of Korean and Greek descent. During his fourth-grade school year, his family relocated to Wyoming so his father could work near his twin brother. In high school, Kemp competed in gymnastics and played as a football tailback. Following graduation, he moved to Denver, Colorado, to live with his brother and attend college, financing his studies by working as an exotic dancer.
Career Discovery and modeling Kemp's look led to youth commercial modeling roles for brands including Calvin Klein and Banana Republic beginning at age 14. While based in Denver, he sent a physical modeling portfolio to Falcon Studios director John Rutherford, who referred him to a local adult industry scout. This contact led to an introduction to director Chi Chi LaRue, who noted a historical lack of representation for multiracial talent in gay erotica and arranged for Kemp to relocate to Los Angeles.
Adopting the pseudonym Jordan Young, Kemp made his on-screen debut at age 18 in the 1994 film Strung Up, followed by a lead role in Mustang's Nightwatch II. Beyond modeling for erotica publications, he penned a regular commentary column called "New Kid on the Cock" for Skin Flicks magazine and appeared in Ronnie Larsen's 1997 industry documentary Shooting Porn, which screened at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Transitioning behind the camera, Kemp wrote feature scripts for Falcon and All Worlds Video, including The Taking of Jake (1997), Like Father, Like Son, and Hardcore (1997). He earned his first production credit on the feature Lost in Vegas, for which he also wrote the script. His adult media work received one Grabby Award, a Men in Video Award, and two nominations at the GayVN Awards.
Mainstream and Early Unscripted Television work Kemp left adult cinema in the early 2000s, reverted to his legal name Billy Kemp, and entered mainstream television as a low-level story researcher for daytime talk programs. He advanced into leadership roles within the reality, lifestyle, and dating sub-genres, managing casting blocks for network series including ElimiDate (Syndication), Wife Swap (ABC), Temptation Island (FOX), and Nanny 911.
FremantleMedia and Banijay Studios Kemp spent a decade working as Vice President of Talent and Casting at FremantleMedia North America. He directed overall talent acquisition architectures, open calls, and celebrity bookings for major broadcast series including American Idol, America's Got Talent, The X Factor, The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, and The Great Christmas Light Fight. He also created an internal tracking database to scout and develop incoming on-air personalities for the studio.
He later joined Banijay Studios North America as Vice President of Talent Development, steering casting strategy across the production house's slate while formatting new concepts. He pitched and sold the docu-soap What Happens at The Abbey to E! and scouted public figures Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert, serving as an Executive Producer on their resulting VH1 reality series Teyana & Iman. His development slate at Banijay also encompassed ABC's Child Support, USA's The Secret Life of Kids, and ABC's Big Fan.
Persons of Interest Productions Kemp partnered with talent executive Katie Krim to launch Persons of Interest Productions, a full-service Hollywood packaging, casting, and celebrity booking firm. Operating independently, the company creates unscripted program designs and manages multi-market casting calls for various network programs, including ongoing cycles for ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette television franchises.
Personal life Kemp lives in Los Angeles metropolitan area, where his personal activities focus on outdoor fitness and hiking. During his tenure in the adult industry, his personal relationships included partnerships with fellow performers Tom Katt and Logan Reed, as well as a relationship with Sam Dixon, a former police officer who later performed in adult media.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Strung Up Jordan Young 1995 Night Watch 2 Jordan Young Debut 1995 Butt Buddy Bonanaza Jordan Young 1995 Jim Steel's Pickup Jordan Young 1995 The Best of Eduardo Jordan Young 1995 Naked Truth Jordan Young 1995 Pick Up Job Applicant 1995 Love Money Jordan Young 1995 Point of View Jordan Young 1995 Inches Away Jordan Young 1995 Total Corruption 2: One Night In Jail Jordan Young 1995 The Ryker Files Jordan 1995 Touched By an Anal Jordan Young 1995 Fresh Buns 9 Jordan Young 1996 Idol in the Sky Cowboy 1996 Rescue 69-11 Jordan Young 1996 Dino Dreams On Jordan Young 1996 Dax Jordan Young 1996 Men Only Jordan Young 1996 Hung Riders 2: The Heat is On Hop Sing 1996 The Company We Keep Jordan Young 1996 Driven: No Turning Back Jordan Young 1996 White Hot Blonde in Corvette 1996 Ambush Jordan Young 1996 My Sister's Husband Bar Patron 1996 Chained Desires Jordan Young 1996 Lost in Vegas Jordan Young 1996 Lip Lock Jordan Young 1997 Our Trespasses Seminarian 1997 Big As This Box 5 Jordan Young 1997 Needy & Meaty 2 Jordan Young 1997 Positions of Mine 69 Jordan Young 1997 Beefeaters 2 Jordan Young 1997 Hawaiian Lei Jordan Young 1997 Hawaiian Illustrated Jordan Young 1997 Hard Core Jake's boyfriend 1997 Initiation 2: Hell Week Jordan Young 1997 The Freshmen Late Jock 1997 Tales from the Backlot 2 Jordan Young 1997 Summer Reunion Jordan Young 1998 Sticky Buns Jordan Young 1999 Cockstar 3 Jordan Young 1999 Ball Gravy Jordan Young 1999 Anal Nitrate Jordan Young 2002 The Backseat Boys Jordan Young 2004 Bottom Boy Bonanza 2 Jordan Young 2004 Widespread Jordan Young 2005 Laymen Jordan Young 2005 Man Talk Jordan Young 2006 The Best of Tom Chase 1 Jordan Young 2011 Self-Sucking Studs Jordan Young 2012 My Big Fucking Dick 12: Mike Branson Jordan Young
Director Year Title Role Notes 2002 Earth Guys Are Easy Director as Jordan Young
Producer Year Title Role Notes 1995 Lost in Vegas Co-producer (as Jordan Young) 1998–2008 Headliners & Legends with Matt Lauer Producer 1999 DreamMaker Associate Producer 2000 Lover or Loser Associate Producer 2001 Who Knows the Band? Producer 2002 Temptation Island Casting Producer 2003 The Wade Robson Project Producer (pilot episode) 2003 Anything for Love Segment Producer 2003 Girl Makes Band Talent Producer 2006 America's Got Talent Talent Producer 2017 What Happens at The Abbey Executive Producer 2018 Teyana & Iman Executive Producer
Writer Year Title Role Notes 1995 Fly Bi Night Jordan Young 1995 Lost in Vegas Jordan Young 1996 Brother to Brother Jordan Young 1996 Street Boyz Jordan Young 1996 Log Jammer Jordan Young 1997 Hardcore Jordan Young 1997 Strip Tease Jordan Young 2000 Echoes Jordan Young 2001 The Missing Link Jordan Young 2002 Deep South: The Big and the Easy, Part 1 Jordan Young 2002 Deep South: The Big and the Easy, Part 2 Jordan Young 2017 What Happens at The Abbey Creator / Writer 2018 Teyana & Iman Story Developer / Writer
Casting director Year Title Role Notes 2001 elimiDATE Casting Director 2004 Next Action Star Casting Director 2004 How Clean Is Your House? Casting Director 2004 The Next Great Champ Casting Director 2004 Distraction Casting Director 2004 Wife Swap Casting Director 2004 Temptation Island Casting Director 2004 Nanny 911 Casting Director 2005 Property Ladder Casting Director 2006 Love on the Rocks Casting Director 2007 American Inventor Casting Director 2007 Thank God You're Here Casting Director 2007–2008 Temptation Casting Director 2007–2008 America's Got Talent Casting Director / VP of Talent 2008 Farmer Wants a Wife Casting Director 2008 Can You Duet? Casting Director 2008 Celebrity Family Feud Casting Director 2008 Million Dollar Password Casting Director 2002–2016 American Idol VP of Talent and Casting 2011–2013 The X Factor VP of Talent and Casting — The Price Is Right VP of Talent and Casting — Let's Make a Deal VP of Talent and Casting 2013–2015 The Great Christmas Light Fight VP of Talent and Casting 2017 What Happens at The Abbey Creator / VP of Talent Development 2017 Big Fan VP of Talent Development 2018 Child Support VP of Talent Development 2018 The Secret Life of Kids VP of Talent Development 2018 Teyana & Iman Executive Producer 2020–present The Bachelor Casting Director Through Persons of Interest Productions 2020–present The Bachelorette Casting Director Through Persons of Interest Productions
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref 1997 Adult Video News Men in Video Awards Most Cuddly Stud 2001 GayVN Awards Best Screenplay Echoes Grabby Awards 2003 GayVN Awards Deep South: The Big and the Easy, Part 1 & Deep South: The Big and the Easy, Part 2 Grabby Awards
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