The end of the series in 2004 saw a lag in Denisof's career. Save for appearing in three episodes of the hit series "How I Met Your Mother", as the goofy philandering Sandy Rivers, Denisof would not work as much as he used to for the next several years. During this time he appeared in several stage productions, including "Rope" at Chichester Festival Theatre's Minerva Theatre with Anthony Head, who played Wesley's predecessor Rupert Giles on "Buffy". Most likely due to his time playing an English character on "Angel", Denisof was among 200 actors considered for the role of James Bond in "Casino Royale", but lost out to Daniel Craig. Later, in 2008, he appeared in season 2 of "Private Practice" as a man named Daniel, who has two pregnant wives giving birth on the same day. In 2009, he appeared in four episodes of Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" as Senator Daniel Perrin.