[1] Kilkenny oversaw the effects on such recent blockbuster films as Prometheus, Rise of the Planet of the Apes,[2] X-Men: First Class, Mr. Popper's Penguins and Black Swan in which Natalie Portman earned the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Other 20th Century Fox blockbuster films that drew success under Kilkenny's watch include X-Men: The Last Stand, Live Free or Die Hard and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Before that, he was a freelance visual effects producer on the films Dr. Dolittle 2, Daredevil, Gone in 60 Seconds and Star Trek: Insurrection.
As a student at the University of Arizona, Kilkenny studied radio/television, interned at the NBC affiliate in Tucson, and was a sports producer at the local ABC station.
The university has recognized Kilkenny for his achievements in the film industry by awarding him an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts during the spring of 2009 graduation ceremony.