On television, he is best known for his roles as Chris Stevens on Northern Exposure (1990–1995), Aidan Shaw on Sex and the City (2000–2003), Max Gregson on United States of Tara (2009–2011), and Seth Holt on Parenthood (2011–2015).

Corbett was raised in Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S.[2] He grew up in an apartment block near the Ohio River with his mother and stepfather, both of whom worked at his uncle Phillip's music club.

[10] Following his graduation from high school, Corbett moved to Bellflower, California to live with his father and stepmother, and worked for Kaiser Steel in Fontana for six years.

[12] Corbett stopped working at the factory after injuring his back; he subsequently enrolled in hairdressing classes at Cerritos College in Norwalk, and also studied acting there.

[15] Corbett's first role came in 1988, when he was cast as Louis, the hippie boyfriend of Karen Arnold (Olivia d'Abo) in the first season of ABC's comedy-drama series The Wonder Years.

[16] Corbett played the leading role of Adam MacArthur, in 1997's short-lived Fox science fiction series The Visitor, for which he was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television.

[citation needed] In 2002, Corbett portrayed the male lead role of Ian Miller in the romantic comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, alongside Nia Vardalos (who also wrote the screenplay), for which he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

[20] Additionally, Corbett starred in the 2007 Lifetime television film Montana Sky, and co-starred as a corrupt LAPD vice squad member in the 2008 David Ayer-directed crime thriller Street Kings.

[22] From 2009 to 2011, Corbett co-starred in the Showtime comedy-drama series United States of Tara as Max Gregson, the husband of Toni Collette's title character.

[36] In 2017, he portrayed the main role of Michael Spurlock, a pastor who welcomes Karen refugees to his church, in the Steve Gomer-directed drama film All Saints.

[38] He portrayed Dr. Dan Covey, the father of Lana Condor's lead character, in the film adaptation of Jenny Han's novel To All the Boys I've Loved Before (2018), directed by Susan Johnson.

In 2019, Corbett starred in John R. Leonetti's film adaptation of Tim Lebbon's horror novel The Silence, with Miranda Otto and Stanley Tucci.

[42] He released his self-titled debut album, co-produced by D. Scott Miller and Tara Novick, on April 4, 2006,[43] and went on tour with ZZ Top, Lisa Marie Presley, and Charlie Daniels to promote the record.