Cortese appeared in the NBC television series Seinfeld, where he played Tony, Elaine's ultra-cool, vapid, good-looking boyfriend. In the episode, titled "The Stall", he was dubbed a "mimbo" (a male bimbo). He was also featured in The WB television series What I Like About You in a recurring role as Vic, Val's boss, from 2002 to 2003 a role he reprised as a series regular from 2005 to 2006 during the fourth and final season, which he directed one episode and in two episodes of 8 Simple Rules in 2004, playing Bridget's tennis coach. He has also starred in The Natural horror film Locusts: The 8th Plague.