He appeared sporadically on UK television in the early 1970s, including his role as the gangster Laughing Spam Fritter opposite Adam Faith in "Budgie". Later he played Praetorian officer Naevius Sutorius Macro in "I, Claudius". He then began to appear more frequently, and not just in the UK, with roles as a Portuguese navigator Rodrigues in the 1980 television miniseries "Shogun", based on the novel by James Clavell, and as Sallah in two of the "Indiana Jones" films. In 1989, he played Marvel Comics character Kingpin in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. Rhys-Davies also starred in another Clavell adaption, "Noble House", set in Hong Kong, in which he plays Ian Dunross' corporate enemy, Quillian Gornt. He has since appeared in numerous television shows and miniseries, including Agent Michael Malone in the 1993 remake of the 1950s television series "The Untouchables" as well as a leading role in the television series "Sliders" as Professor Maximillian Arturo from 1995 to 1997.