Darby was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2001 and 2002. Darby is probably best known for playing the band manager of Flight of the Conchords in the BBC radio series (as Bryan Nesbitt) and HBO television series (as Murray Hewitt). A former soldier, he left the army in 1994 and went to university. In 1996 he formed a comedy duo Rhysently Granted with Grant Lobban. After winning an open mic contest at Southern Blues Bar in Christchurch they began performing at local venues.