Ultimately, Kleintank went to New York City to pursue his acting career, and made his television debut as Greg in a 2009 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2010, he played a recurring role in Gossip Girl as Elliot Leichter, a bisexual love interest for Eric van der Woodsen. Kleintank landed his first daytime role that same year, debuting as Noah Newman in The Young and the Restless on September 21, 2010; however, he left the role after less than six months.