He was cast as John "Johnny Slash" Ulasewicz, a major supporting character in the teen sitcom Square Pegs (1982), which received critical praise but was cancelled after 19 episodes (one season).

He continued the role in the follow-up film Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), in which the character was killed.

He later appeared as T'Jon, the captain of a cargo vessel rescued by the crew of the Enterprise in "Symbiosis" (1988), an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

[4][5] He has at least two panels dedicated to him as part of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, both referencing his role as David Marcus.

Butrick's Star Trek III co-star Robin Curtis offered similar praise on the DVD commentary for that film.