Kilner came late to acting having established a successful career as an investment banker managing accounts for Fortune 500 companies. The handsome blond began making appearances on episodic TV in 1989 on such diverse shows as "The Cosby Show" and "China Beach". Kilner had a recurring role on the CBS nighttime soap "Knots Landing" (1989-90) and made a memorable appearance as a gay man fighting his sick lover's parents over visitation rights on a controversial episode of "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1990). He appeared in small roles in "Switch" (1991), "Twenty Bucks" (1993) and "The Stoned Age" (1994).