When he was in his early sixties, Terry Gilliam cast him in the title role of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). Although the film was a financial failure, his starring role in this major production, as well as his fine performance, led to an explosion in his career. He has since had numerous roles in feature films and television. A new generation has come to know him from his recurring role in the hit television series The X Files (1993) and later feature film The X Files (1998), where he played a mysterious character known only as "The Well-Manicured Man". This flurry of activity in his career continues into 2004.

He emigrated to Canada in 1972. Has Canadian citizenship and was artistic director of the Stratford Festival (Ontario, Canada) from 1984-1989.