A decade later, after an acting hiatus, Ashbrook guest starred on the television series Cagney & Lacey, Knots Landing, and ABC Afterschool Special before starring as Tom Essex in the 1988 horror film Return of the Living Dead Part II.

While starring on Twin Peaks, Ashbrook appeared in the films Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1990), Ghost Dad (1990), Girlfriend from Hell (1990), and The Willies (1990) as well as on an episode of the television series The Hidden Room.

In 2010, he reunited with some of the cast of Twin Peaks on the comedy-tribute episode of Psych, titled "Dual Spires".

In 2012, Ashbrook starred alongside Ray Wise and Derek Mears in the Steven C. Miller psycho-thriller The Aggression Scale.

In 2017, Ashbrook reprised his role as Bobby Briggs in David Lynch's revival series Twin Peaks: The Return.