When he did resume acting, he was cast as a yuppie photographer in the "American Playhouse" adaptation of Keith Reddin's play "Big Time" (PBS, 1989) and the title role in a fictionalized account of the life of the younger brother of gangster Al Capone in "The Lost Capone" (TNT, 1990). Although Pasdar's performances couldn't be faulted, he seemed consigned to acting in vehicles unworthy of his talents. One arguable exception was the British independent feature "Just Like a Woman" (1992) in which he essayed a transvestite who has an affair with a divorcee (Julie Walters). Pasdar earned strong notices for his turn as Gerald/Geraldine, partly because he sensitively handled the character's predilection without condescension. Still, the lack of roles and the perception that his career was stalled caused the actor to take another sabbatical.

Pasdar worked at a NYC diner as a waiter and cashier before returning to the big screen with an indelible role in Brian De Palma's "Carlito's Way" (1993). He offered strong support to Anne Bancroft in the PBS remake of "Paddy Chayefsky's The Mother" (1994) excelled as a playboy businessman discovering the true meaning of romance in the genial romantic comedy "The Pompatus of Love" (1995). The following year, Pasdar landed one the best roles of his career as an amoral businessman on the cult Fox TV series "Profit". While the show's dark tone was off-putting for the average viewer, critics raved. Pasdar clearly relished portraying the manipulative Jim Profit who would use any means (including murder and blackmail) to secure a position at the top of the business world. Due to low ratings, though, only six episodes aired.

A similar fate befell Pasdar's next series, the CBS drama "Feds" (1997), in which he was on the right side of the law as a US Attorney. He next co-produced and directed his debut feature "Cement" (lensed 1998), a crime drama about a woman who stirs up trouble between rival gangs. The choosy actor then once again attempted a regular series run playing an archeology professor who investigates paranormal phenomena in the drama "Mysterious Ways" .