Initially a limited role, his dastardly but popular Matt Clark ended up embroiled in a major storyline as a rapist and stuck around on the popular serial until 1996. Cibrian moved to the syndicated spin-off "Baywatch Nights" later that year playing a photographer who helped to solve crimes, and stuck with the series from 1996-1997, starring alongside Angie Harmon and David Hasselhoff in a slightly edgier and more clothed version of the beach-set crime drama. When Ashley Hamilton walked away from the role of Cole Deschanel on NBC's relatively short-lived daytime drama "Sunset Beach" in 1997, Cibrian stepped in, thanks in part to the efforts of Hasselhoff, who championed the young actor. On "Sunset Beach", Cibrian got to play what he described as the "daytime version of James Bond", starring as a married rogue who surrounded himself with money, women, and fast cars. The requisite paternity mysteries and kidnapping dramas were represented, and Cibrian managed to make this largely despicable character quite charming, winning more than a few loyal fans as well as a nomination for a Soap Opera Digest award.

In 1998, Cibrian marked his feature debut, making quite an impression with a small but memorable turn as the erotic masseur hired to work on Holly Hunter's fed up divorcee Judith in the comedy "Living Out Loud". That same year he made his TV-movie debut playing the titular vigilante in the Chuck Norris-produced actioner "Logan's War: Bound By Honor" (CBS). A part in the Lifetime mockumentary "Jackie's Back" followed in 1999, but more notable that year was Cibrian's primetime series regular debut on NBC's drama "Third Watch". A fast-paced, hard-hitting look at the people who handle NYC's midnight emergencies, the show quickly won a following, and California boy Cibrian stood out as a convincing and compelling NYFD hero, displaying all the upstanding morality his soap characters lacked.

In 2000 he added to his film resume with a featured role in the satire "But I'm A Cheerleader". Here he parted from his usual macho fare with a delightfully campy turn as foxy Rock, the caretaker (and probable candidate for "treatment") of a homosexual "rehabilitation" center owned by his overbearing mother (Cathy Moriarty). Riding high on the popularity of "Third Watch,” Cibrian was on the ascent, and would next appear as Joseph (of the coat of many colors) in the NBC biblical miniseries "In the Beginning" in 2000. Meanwhile, apart from his successful acting career, Cibrian branched out into singing, forming the pop vocal trio 3Deep with former "The Young and the Restless" co-star Joshua Morrow and Canadian singer-composer C J Huyer. The group enjoyed fame and strong record sales in Canada in 2000 and were working to make a breakthrough in the States as well.

Though “Third Watch” had run its course by 2005, Cibrian continued his upward trajectory both on film and on television. After a brief run on “Tilt” (2005), ESPN’s attempt to further profit off America’s unrelenting poker craze, Cibrian moved on to star in the pilot episode of “Invasion” (ABC, 2005- ), a supernatural drama set in a small Florida down beset by a hurricane that may have a connection to extraterrestrial beings. Network ordered 12 episodes for the 2005-2006 season. In the feature world, Cibrian starred in sci-fi horror thriller, “The Cave” (2005), playing an explorer who helps lead a pair of biologists into an elaborate cave system beneath the newly discovered ruins of a 13th century Romanian abbey. But instead of discovering an new ecosystem, as the biologists had hoped, the group finds a new species of unique and unwelcoming beings formed by the isolated environment. A clichéd storyline, unknown cast and lack of aggressive advertising ensured a $6 million opening weekend.