Since training as an actor at Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama School, graduating in 1986, Lovatt has acted on stage, television and feature films.
He has also acted in many fantasy shows that were filmed in New Zealand; he co-starred as one of the adventurers in Jules Verne adaptation Mysterious Island, and had guest parts in Legend of the Seeker, the short-lived Cleopatra 2525, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and spin-off shows Young Hercules, playing the God Morpheus and Xena: Warrior Princess where he played Phalangus and also the God of the Underworld, Hades in the 5th season.
After acting in award-winning small-town tale Something in the Air, he won the part of father and bar-owner Max Hoyland on long-running Australian soap Neighbours.
His other acting roles include Savage Honeymoon, the car-yard owner in 2008 Anthony McCarten feature Show of Hands, and 2012 conspiracy thriller The Cure.
Lovatt plays Tullius, a wealthy member of the Roman elite involved in varied nefarious activities, including slave trading.