David Brisbin

With his oval-shaped face--downright owlish with glasses on--David Brisbin is a natural fit for comedies and is also a character actor who excels at playing everyday people. He began appearing in films and on television series during the mid-'80s, eventually landing the part of Mr. Ernst on the sitcom "Hey Dude," which was broadcast on Nickelodeon for roughly a decade (including reruns) starting in 1989. His character, the owner of a fictional dude ranch near Tucson, Arizona, was depicted as clumsy and balding, and served as a source of easy comic relief. However, in the years after "Hey Dude" ceased first-running episodes in 1991, he acclimated himself well as a guest star of more serious television dramas, and even landed small roles in Academy Award-winning films including "Forrest Gump" and "Leaving Las Vegas" in '94 and '95, respectively. In addition, in the 2000 drama "Erin Brockovich," he had the relatively less showy (compared to Julia Roberts's part) but necessary role of Dr. Jaffe. From '98 to '02, he also appeared as one of many recurring physicians in the hospital drama "ER," playing anesthesiologist Dr. Alexander Babcock.