His family moved to South Africa when Kirkwood was young. The son of a poet and an art teacher, he was exposed to literature and the arts from an early age and fell in love with acting in his school years. He studied drama at high school and at Johannesburg's Wits University, and started working in theatre immediately thereafter. He made an award-winning debut at Johannesburg's Market Theatre as Billy the Kid and followed that up by award-nominated performances in other theatre productions in both Johannesburg and Cape Town, and winning another award as Biff Loman in Miller's Death of a Salesman. He had two children, Willow and Phoenix with former Calvin Klein model Josie Borain. He lives in Cape Town and works primarily in film and television, but still finds time for theatre and also works as a voice-artist. He is a fitness fanatic and spends much of his free time trail running, cycling and competing in ultra distance races.

Baby Farm
(5 episodes)
2025

Churchill at War
Franklin Delano Roosevelt · (4 episodes)
2024

White Lies
Andrew McKenzie · (8 episodes)
2024

ONE PIECE
Axe-Hand Morgan · (2 episodes)
2023

Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman
Resident
2022

Collision
Johan Greser
2022

The Mauritanian
Sergeant Sands
2021

Inconceivable
James Bishop · (13 episodes)
2020

Warrior
Walter Buckley · (30 episodes)
2019

Mia and the White Lion
John Owen
2018

The Catch
Theo Tasker · (1 episode)
2016

Tiger House
Sveta
2015

Seal Team Eight: Behind Enemy Lines
Lt.Parker
2014

The Salvation
Man With Beard
2014

Son of God
King David
2014

Black Sails
Captain Bryson · (3 episodes)
2014

Felix
Jeff Junior
2013

House Party: Tonight's the Night
Keniston Scott
2013

The Challenger Disaster
Avionics Engineer
2013

Banshee
Colonel Douglas Stowe · (10 episodes)
2013

Death Race: Inferno
Dr. Klein
2013

Dredd
Judge Lex
2012

Outcasts
Rudi · (8 episodes)
2011

Atlantis: End of a World, Birth of a Legend
Rusa
2011

Natale in Sudafrica
Direttore hotel
2010

Invictus
Presidential Guard
2009

Endgame
Anthony Sampson
2009
Coronation Street: Out of Africa
Ed Teal
2008

The Three Investigators in The Secret of Skeleton Island
Tom Farraday
2007

Mercenary for Justice
Kruger
2006

The Triangle
(1 episode)
2005

The Triangle
Bill Granger · (3 episodes)
2005

Charlie Jade
Ren Porter · (8 episodes)
2005

Dead Easy
Lloyd
2004

Dracula 3000
Orlock
2004

King Solomon's Mines
Sergei · (2 episodes)
2004

Berserker: Hell's Warrior
Norseman
2004

In My Country
Boetie
2004

Blast
Agent Phillips
2004

The Bone Snatcher
Paul
2003

Red Water
Brett van Ryan
2003
Mein Soldat
Duncan