Finding Fame We are proud of our Bakersfield products who have gone out into the world and found fame. Bakersfield Life is excited to publish this new feature where we catch up with people from here who are now famous.
Joni Kempner
Photo by Mark Nessia
From high school drama to model turned TV actress
Early life Even though she wasn’t born in Bakersfield, Joni Kempner was just a young, blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl who moved here when she was in eighth grade. Like a lot of people who work in the oil industry, her father was transferred to work at an oil company in town. Kempner attended Stockdale High School and began pursuing her dream as an actress by participating in the school’s drama course. “I was a really shy kid and acting was my way of getting out of being shy,” said Kempner, who is now an established model and actress. Big city lights The allure of the big city prompted Kempner to move to San Diego where she attended the University of California, San Diego and received a Bachelor of Science in animal physiology and neuroscience. She also studied theater while at UCSD. Kempner currently lives in West Hollywood where she continues to focus on her acting and modeling career. She still finds time to visit friends and relatives in Bakersfield on a regular basis. “I try to come here as often as I can. It’s just got that small town feeling. You always get a welcome attitude from people,” Kempner said. Career She explained that her parents have been supportive even though her career can be very unpredictable. “I have amazing parents. I am so very lucky. I studied medicine in college and I know they would love to have a doctor in the family. I think any parent wants a secure life for their children,” she said. Despite what her parents may have had in mind, Kempner followed her dream and sought out a modeling agency after the suggestion was made while she was working as a waitress in college. A month later, she was recruited and on her way to Milan
where she lived for several months and worked as a runway model. Kempner said she has to stay local for auditions. “I never got to New York because I was more focused on acting.” Television/print modeling Kempner has been in a number of television series including “Deal or No Deal,” “Life,” “Cavemen,” “Love Bites” and more recently, she has been a part of “CSI: Miami” as well as several indie films. “Being an artist, you always want to affect people and inspire them,” said Kempner. As a print model, she has worked with a number of well-known companies like Church, Dickies, Sears, Kohl’s and Victoria’s Secret. Hobbies Apart from her career as an actress and model, Kempner enjoys writing and sports activities like hiking with friends. “I’m trying to teach myself to surf for the second time,” she said. Kempner has written screenplays and is currently working on a children’s book. “I also paint. My mother is an artist, so I learn from her.” Bakersfield The Kern County Fair offers an abundance of live music, games and entertainment for thousands of Bakersfield residents each year in an exciting event that even Kempner doesn’t want to miss. “I love all of the booths and the general atmosphere,” she said. “I try to come back every year.” If she’s not out seeing a concert at a local venue, then you might catch her dining at Mexicali or Frugatti’s. “The thing I like about Bakersfield is that it still feels like home even after being in L.A. You don’t have to deal with traffic and the people are nice.” — Breanna Fields bakersfieldlife.com
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