In 1998, Malina landed the role of associate producer Jeremy Goodwin on Sorkin's "Sports Night," and in 2002, he joined the cast of "The West Wing" as communications director Will Bailey. For both series, Malina and his cast mates earned Screen Actors Guild nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble.
Malina had a recurring role on "The Larry Sanders Show" and appeared in the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon on HBO. His big-screen work includes Malice (1993), The American President (1995), Clockwatchers (1997), Bulworth (1998) and View from the Top (2003).