Kevin Kilner

Kevin Kilner (born May 3, 1958) is an American actor known for his work in television, film, and stage productions, having transitioned from a career in finance to the performing arts in the mid-1980s.^[1] Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1981 with a degree in economics, where he also played on three NCAA championship lacrosse teams.^[2] After college, Kilner worked as a credit analyst at the First National Bank of Maryland and later as a Fortune 500 lender at a mortgage bank, reaching that position by age 26, before leaving banking to pursue acting.^[2][3] Kilner moved to New York City in 1985 to study acting formally, including Shakespeare and the Meisner technique, and supported himself through jobs waiting tables, tending bar, and catering.^[2] He made his Broadway debut in 1994 as Jim O'Connor in The Glass Menagerie and soon transitioned to television with guest appearances on shows like The Cosby Show and China Beach in 1989.^[1][3] His early TV credits included recurring roles on Knots Landing (1989–1990) and a guest spot on L.A. Law (1990) as James Campbell, a gay man.^[3] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Kilner starred in lead roles such as the workaholic district attorney Bill Guthrie on Almost Perfect (CBS, 1995–1996) and William Boone on the sci-fi series Earth: Final Conflict (season 1, 1997).^[3][1] In film, he appeared in supporting parts in A Few Good Men (1992), Home Alone 3 (1997) as FBI agent Jack Pruitt, American Pie 2 (2001), Raising Helen (2004), The Irishman (2019), and in the 2020s including The Plot Against America (2020) and I Have Love in Me (2024).^[1][4] He has also recurred on series like One Life to Live, One Tree Hill, House, White Collar, and The Blacklist, while continuing stage work in productions such as The Dinner Party.^[1] Kilner has been married to actress Jordan Baker since 1998.^[4]

Early life

Family background

Kevin Kilner was born on May 3, 1958, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the son of Dorothea E. S. Kilner, a longtime kindergarten and elementary school teacher in Baltimore County who also pursued interests in art, including watercolor painting, calligraphy, and graphic design and who died in 2024, and Edward A. Kilner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during the Korean War and received the Purple Heart and who died in 2018.^[4][5][6][7] Kilner grew up in Baltimore alongside his sister, Mary-Stuart Kilner, in a family environment shaped by his mother's educational career and artistic pursuits, as well as his father's military service and involvement in community charitable efforts later in life.^[5][6]

Education

Kilner attended Dulaney High School in Timonium, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore, where he graduated in 1976.^[8][9] He then enrolled at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, earning a B.A. in economics in 1981.^[10][7] During his undergraduate years, Kilner pursued interests in finance through his economics major and also pursued interests in fiction and poetry writing.^[7] At Johns Hopkins, Kilner was a standout athlete on the men's lacrosse team, playing as a midfielder from 1977 to 1979 and in 1981.^[11] He contributed to the Blue Jays' success, including scoring in key tournament games, and was part of three NCAA Division I national championship teams.^[2][12][13]

Acting career

Transition to acting and theater

After graduating from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in economics in 1981, Kilner embarked on a career in finance, working as a commercial banker in Baltimore, where he served first as a credit analyst and then as a loan officer managing accounts for Fortune 500 companies such as McCormick Spice, Black & Decker, and Marriott Hotels.^[14] In 1985, he left banking to pursue acting, moving to New York City and supporting himself through jobs including driving a cab, waiting tables, and temporary work.^[14][10] Kilner began his acting training in Baltimore at the Baltimore Dance Center and with coach Kathryn Gately, later continuing studies in Los Angeles.^[7] His early stage work included regional theater productions following his career pivot, as he sought to build experience before transitioning to larger venues.^[10] One notable early role came in 1990, when he appeared as a supporting character in Lanford Wilson's Burn This at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles.^[15][16] Kilner's breakthrough on stage arrived with his Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie at the Criterion Center Stage Right, where he portrayed Jim O'Connor, the Gentleman Caller, from November 1994 to January 1995.^[17][18] For this performance, he received the Theatre World Award for outstanding debut and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.^[17][19] Kilner continued his theater work in subsequent years, including a 2006 production of Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark at the Alley Theatre in Houston, where he played the role of Mike Talman from June 30 to July 16.^[20][21] This regional engagement highlighted his ongoing commitment to stage performances amid his growing screen career.^[21]

Television roles

Kevin Kilner made his television acting debut in 1989, appearing as Steve in the episode "Mrs. Huxtable Goes to Kindergarten" on The Cosby Show.^[22] This early guest role marked the beginning of his presence in episodic television, where he quickly transitioned to additional supporting appearances in the late 1980s and early 1990s.^[23] In the early 1990s, Kilner took on a recurring role in the nighttime soap opera Knots Landing, portraying Alex Georgi across three episodes during the 1989-1990 season. He also secured guest spots in procedural dramas and anthology series, including Agent 29/Ace on China Beach (1990) and James Reed in the "The Sacrifice" episode of Tales from the Crypt (1990), showcasing his versatility in dramatic and suspenseful formats. Kilner's television career gained momentum in the mid-1990s with starring roles that highlighted his leading man appeal. He starred as Mike Ryan, a district attorney balancing romance and career, in the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect from 1995 to 1996, appearing in all 13 episodes of the series.^[23] Following this, he landed a prominent lead as William Boone, an FBI agent allied with alien companions, in the first season of the science fiction series Earth: Final Conflict (1997-1998), contributing to 22 episodes.^[24] In 1999, he played the family patriarch Nick in the Disney Channel TV movie Smart House, a role that emphasized his ability to portray relatable domestic figures in family-oriented programming. As Kilner's career progressed into the 2000s and beyond, he shifted toward supporting and guest roles across a range of genres, appearing in over 100 television episodes overall. Notable later guest appearances include Larry Sawyer on One Tree Hill (2005-2006), David on Happyish (2015), and recurring turns in procedurals such as Nick Dawson on Person of Interest (2014) and Brooks Holder on The Good Wife (2015).^[25] More recent credits feature Robert Cole in the pilot episode of Madam Secretary (2014), ADA Paul Wexler on East New York (2022), Dax Tilmon on FBI: Most Wanted (2023), Barry Rosenthal on Acapulco (2021), and MJP on Bonding (2021).^[26][4] This evolution reflects a sustained presence in television, moving from lead protagonists to character-driven supporting parts in ensemble casts and prestige dramas.^[27]

Film roles

Kilner's entry into feature films occurred in the early 1990s with supporting roles that showcased his versatility in ensemble casts. His debut came in the 1991 comedy Switch, directed by Blake Edwards, where he played Dan Jones, a minor character in the gender-bending narrative starring Ellen Barkin and Jimmy Smits. That same year, he appeared as Nick Parruso in the thriller Under Surveillance, a low-budget direct-to-video release involving corporate espionage. By 1993, Kilner took on Gary Adams in the independent drama Twenty Bucks, an interconnected story of a twenty-dollar bill's journey through various lives, and in 1994, he portrayed Officer Dean in the cult stoner comedy The Stoned Age, adding to his early portfolio of character-driven parts. A notable breakthrough in family cinema arrived with Home Alone 3 (1997), where Kilner played Jack Pruitt, the supportive father of young protagonist Alex Pruitt (Alex D. Linz), amid the film's chaotic spy-thriller antics involving international criminals.^[28] The movie, directed by Raja Gosnell, achieved commercial success, grossing $79 million worldwide against a $32 million budget, though it received mixed reviews for lacking the original's charm.^[29] This role highlighted Kilner's ability to embody grounded, paternal figures in high-stakes, youth-oriented stories. In the 2000s, Kilner frequently appeared in teen and romantic comedies, often as authoritative or fatherly supporting characters. He played "Dad" in American Pie 2 (2001), the sequel to the hit gross-out comedy, delivering a memorable scene as the oblivious parent interrupting the protagonists' beach house escapades. The film was a box office hit, earning over $287 million globally and solidifying the franchise's popularity. Kilner continued this pattern in 2004 with dual roles in romantic comedies: as Pastor Ed Portman in Raising Helen, a dramedy about an aunt (Kate Hudson) raising her nieces and nephews, where his character provided moral guidance; and as Andy Ames, the divorced father of lead Sam (Hilary Duff), in A Cinderella Story, a modern fairy tale that grossed $162 million worldwide.^[30] Later that year, he took on Charley in the Steve Martin-led Shopgirl (2005), a poignant indie romance based on Martin's novella, portraying a subsidiary figure in the film's exploration of loneliness and relationships. In later years, Kilner expanded into thrillers and dramas, appearing in films such as Deputy Gary Webb in The Craigslist Killer (2011), Tom Lungren in Paranoia (2013), Roy in Young Americans (2014), Eddie in Hard Sell (2016), and Peter in The Unattainable Story (2017). Throughout his film career, Kilner specialized in supporting roles as fatherly or authoritative men in family-friendly and teen-targeted movies, contributing stability and warmth to ensemble dynamics without overshadowing leads, while also taking on varied character parts in other genres.^[23]

Personal life and later years

Marriage and family

Kevin Kilner married actress Jordan Baker on October 10, 1998.^[14] The couple had been in a relationship since at least the mid-1990s, when they were living together in New York City while pursuing theater work.^[10] Kilner and Baker have mutually supported their acting careers, occasionally collaborating on stage. Notably, they portrayed a married couple in John Patrick Shanley's Defiance during its West Coast premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007.^[31] The couple maintains a private family life, with no publicly available details on children.^[32] They are based in the Los Angeles area, aligning with their professional commitments in film and television.^[32]

Recent activities

Since 2021, Kevin Kilner has continued to take on selective television roles, appearing as Barry Rosenthal in the Apple TV+ series Acapulco during its first season.^[25] He portrayed ADA Paul Wexler in the CBS police drama East New York, which aired from 2022 to 2023. Kilner also appeared as Dax Tilmon in the 2024 episode "The Return" of the CBS procedural FBI: Most Wanted. In film, he appeared in the short Polaroid in 2024 and had a role in the feature I Have Love in Me that same year.^[4] In addition to acting, Kilner has engaged in public discussions about his career. In a December 2024 episode of The Actor's Instrument podcast titled "The Actor's Superpower with Home Alone's Kevin Kilner," he reflected on his transition from theater to screen roles, including his work in Home Alone 3.^[33] He further discussed his four-decade career in an April 2025 interview on Pera's Playbook, covering highlights from stage to television.^[34] Kilner has been active in philanthropic efforts, serving on the board of Healing TREE, a nonprofit focused on trauma resources, education, and entertainment.^[35] He participated in their 9th Annual Gala in October 2024 and the 10th in 2025, both held in New York City to support abuse and trauma healing initiatives.^[36] Additionally, he emceed The Arc Westchester Foundation's "A Matter of Taste" fundraiser in 2023 and returned for the 2024 event, marking the organization's 75th anniversary and raising funds for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.^[37][38] As of 2025, at age 67, Kilner remains involved in the industry through selective projects and advocacy, balancing acting with nonprofit board work.^[4]

Filmography

Film

Television

Kevin Kilner's television career spans over three decades, featuring guest appearances, recurring roles, and lead parts in series, TV movies, and miniseries. The following is a chronological list of his television credits, compiled from his professional filmography.^[4]

• The Cosby Show (1989, 1 episode as Matt; guest appearance).^[4]
• China Beach (1989, 1 episode as Cpl. Boonie; guest appearance).^[4]
• Knots Landing (1989–1990, 5 episodes as Young Man; recurring role).^[4]
• Murder in Paradise (1990, TV movie as Charlie Raski).^[4]
• 83 Hours 'Til Dawn (1990, TV movie as Michael Larrick).^[4]
• The Heroes of Desert Storm (1991, TV movie as William 'Bill' Marsh).^[4]
• Murder, She Wrote (1993, 1 episode as Jeff Armstrong; guest appearance).^[4]
• Almost Perfect (1995–1996, 25 episodes as Mike Ryan; main role).^[4]
• Timepiece (1996, TV movie as Matthew Banyon).^[4]
• The Outer Limits (1997, 1 episode as Lt. Col. Brandon Grace; guest appearance).^[4]
• Earth: Final Conflict (1997–1999, 44 episodes as William Boone; main role).^[4]
• Smart House (1999, TV movie as Nick Knowles).^[4]
• Frasier (2001, 1 episode as Stan; guest appearance).^[4]
• The Twilight Zone (2002, 1 episode as Dr. Scott Nydam; guest appearance).^[4]
• The Lyon's Den (2003, 1 episode as Aaron Sanders; guest appearance).^[4]
• Threshold (2005, 1 episode as Sen. Will Tollman; guest appearance).^[4]
• One Tree Hill (2005–2006, 5 episodes as Larry Sawyer; recurring role).^[4]
• In from the Night (2006, TV movie as Chet Hammond).^[4]
• The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006, 1 episode as Sgt. James; guest appearance).^[4]
• My Boys (2007, 1 episode as Mike; guest appearance).^[4]
• Greek (2007–2011, 8 episodes as Mr. Chambers; recurring role).^[4]
• Life on Mars (2008, 1 episode as Frank Ruzicka; guest appearance).^[4]
• Dollhouse (2009, 1 episode as Graham; guest appearance).^[4]
• Lie to Me (2010, 1 episode as Det. Jeff Breen; guest appearance).^[4]
• The Craigslist Killer (2011, TV movie as Richard Dewey).^[4]
• House of Cards (2013, 3 episodes as Michael Kern; recurring role).^[4]
• Extant (2014, 2 episodes as Alan; recurring).^[4]
• The Blacklist (2017, 1 episode as Chris Farnsworth; guest appearance).^[58]
• The Code (2019, 1 episode as Rawson Keifer; guest appearance).^[59]
• NCIS (2019, 1 episode as Patrick Norian; guest appearance).^[60]
• Bull (2020, 1 episode as Peter Maybrook; guest appearance).^[61]
• FBI: Most Wanted (2020, 1 episode as Dax Tilmon; guest appearance).^[25]
• The Plot Against America (2020, miniseries, 1 episode as Rabbi; guest appearance).^[62]
• Bonding (2021, 3 episodes as MJP; recurring role).^[63]
• Acapulco (2021, 5 episodes as Barry Rosenthal; recurring role).^[25]
• East New York (2022, 1 episode as ADA Paul Wexler; guest appearance).^[25]

This list highlights his transition from guest spots in the late 1980s to lead roles in the 1990s and recurring appearances in prime-time dramas thereafter.^[4]