Played by Philip Baker Hall

Ernie Dell is a prominent client of Crane, Poole & Schmidt. In episode 1x01 [Head Cases], he tells Lori Colson he would like to hire a private investigator to follow his sixth wife, whom he suspects is having an affair. He wants to get some hard evidence in order to negotiate an annulment of the marriage. Denny Crane balks at the idea of having Ernie's wife followed because he is her secret lover. Despite the efforts of the firm's lawyers to dissuade Ernie from the idea, he hires his own P.I. and learns the truth. Ernie then pulls a gun on Denny in his office, but Denny reminds him that it was a gift from him and that he knows it only fires blanks.

Philip Baker Hall at the Internet Movie Database.