Tergesen began his career with a bit role in the 1991 prime-time aired pilot, Acting Sheriff. Tergesen then appeared in Wayne's World (1992) and Wayne's World 2 (1993), the 1994 series Weird Science, and a recurring role in the first season of Homicide: Life on the Street. Tergesen's career took off in 1997 with his critically acclaimed portrayal of Tobias Beecher on HBO's Oz, a role he played until the series ended in 2003. His film credits include Point Break, Shaft, Monster, The Forgotten, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Cast A Deadly Spell and Wild Iris. He has made several appearances in TV shows such as ER, Rescue Me, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode 517, Criminal Minds episode 511, The 4400, House, Law & Order and two of its spin-offs, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He played the chilling, murderous Navy SEAL, Larrick, in Season 2 of The Americans on FX television network.