Darby is the leader of the Nordics, a White supremacist street gang who deal in methamphetamine, and lives in a large suburban home in Charming, Northern California. It is indicated that he had a prior romantic interest in Gemma Teller Morrow, despite her being of partial Jewish heritage and the wife of Sons of Anarchy president Clay Morrow. He also served a prison sentence in Chino, before his release in 2008. As a legitimate business, he operates a finishing business in Charming, where he employs minorities despite his white supremacy views. He has a number of tattoos, most notably a Swastika and the word 'NORDICS' in the center of his chest.
Season 1
Ernest Darby was recently released from Chino at the beginning of the first season. He was called to a meeting with Clay Morrow and Jax Teller, the leaders of the Sons of Anarchy, after Teller found out that his ex-wife had been buying methamphetamine from a Nord in town. The SOA warned him not to sell drugs in Charming, and also gave him a pistol. He then contacted Marcus Álvarez, the leader of the Mayans whom he met in prison. He proposed that they team up to take out the Sons of Anarchy because the Nords want to sell meth in Charming but are unable to because of the SOA, and the SOA sell weapons to the Mayans' rivals. Álvarez refused the offer, but did give his backing by offering Mayan security. When a 13-year-old girl was raped at the local carnival, the Sons of Anarchy approached Darby and inquired if it was one of his men. He also quizzed them on what happened to Whistler, one of his soldiers who was killed by the SOA. It was also revealed in this episode that his mother was dying of cancer. Gemma kids him about his mom being treated by Jewish doctors as she sits with him at the hospital. Though he doesn't seem upset by this. After Josh Kohn, a rogue ATF agent, sent him information on IRA and SOA weapon deals, he called another meeting with Álvarez. He told him to kill Clay Morrow and afterwards, the Nords could take Charming and the Mayans could take over the gun business. Marcus then told his son, Esai, to kill both Morrow and Darby. Later, when Clay was making a deal with the IRA at a bar, the Mayans attacked but were killed before they could get to him. They simultaneously assaulted Darby's home, but also failed to kill him. They broke in and shot a Nord footsoldier and two women, but Darby hid and escaped death. Darby was arrested for questioning about the shootings. He was hit by the police chief Wayne Unser, after making a derisive remark about Unser's wife's skin colour. Clay Morrow, who was also in the station for questioning, told him not to retaliate against the Mayans because it would start a war on the streets of Charming.
Season 2
In Season 2, Darby is given an envelope of money and told by AJ Weston to start a methlab in Charming specifically to antagonize SAMCRO. When Darby says that Clay will retaliate if they bring drugs into Charming, AJ gives him a note and says to call the number and let them know how much money or manpower is needed. Darby is not as unreasonable and violent as AJ Weston and Ethan Zobelle, the leaders of the White separatist group League Of American Nationalists, nor is he as strict with his racist beliefs. AJ told Darby that he should cover up the Swastika tattoo on his chest, as, due to his dealings with non-whites, he has not "earned it" in AJ's eyes. When L.O.A.N. steps up their actions against SAMCRO, Darby decides to get away from Charming for a while, not wanting to get caught up in the violence he believes will be coming to the town. Following an attack on one of Darby's meth labs by SAMCRO, Zobelle offers him revenge by providing assistance in burning down the porn studio run by SAMCRO. During this, Darby is double-crossed by AJ, who seemingly leaves him to die in the fire. In an extended scene on the Sons of Anarchy Season Two DVD, it's revealed that Darby is alive.
Season 3
Darby is shown to be alive and recovering in the episode "The Push." He observes Jax and Tara dealing black market pharmaceutical meds with a local clinic. He takes this information to Jacob Hale Jr., who is apprehensive and believes Darby is just trying to crush the competition from SAMCRO. Darby claims that the Nords have fallen apart and that his near-death experience made him decide to lead a normal life and that now he is only looking for revenge. Hale ultimately uses the tip and has the Sheriffs raid SAMCRO's clubhouse. In a later episode, Hale attempts to bribe Darby into helping him run a stubborn gym owner out of a neighborhood he is looking to redevelop. Darby initially accepts the bribe, but he is not able to convince the gym owner to vacate the property. Darby, disgusted with himself at becoming Hale's errand boy, angrily returns the bribe money to Hale and then leaves.
Season 6
In retaliation for Clay Morrow's killing of a high-level Aryan Brotherhood member in prison, a group of Neo-Nazis attack the Teller-Morrow Garage and cut up Wayne Unser's chest. Jax and SAMCRO go to Darby, who has separated himself from the Aryan Brotherhood and is now married to a Mexican woman, for information on where to find the Neo-Nazis. Darby is at first hesitant to give up information on his former colleagues, but Jax is able to convince him that it will help out all parties involved as Darby himself is a marked man since he left the Aryan Brotherhood. Darby leads Jax and his men to the home of the Neo-Nazis, but their plan of attack backfires. SAMCRO and Darby end up killing the Neo-Nazis and planting a stash of weapons in their house. After this, Darby and SAMCRO part on good terms.
