Dotrice was known to North American audiences as "Father" in the 1980s American TV series "Beauty and the Beast" and Father Gary Barrett, a Catholic priest, in the 1990s series "Picket Fences". His acting career dates from 1945 in a revue called "Back Home", performed by ex-POWs in aid of the Red Cross. In an episode of "Angel" (1999), part of the Buffyverse, he played the role of Roger Wyndam-Pryce, the overbearing father of the character Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. An earlier science-fiction role was Commissioner Simmonds in two episodes of the 1970s series '. In 1998 Dotrice appeared in three episodes of the series ' as Zeus.