Conchata Ferrell

Conchata Galen Ferrell (March 28, 1943 – October 12, 2020) was an American actress. She played Berta the housekeeper on the sitcom Two and a Half Men from 2003 to 2015, and she received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the role (in 2005 and 2007), as well as a TV Land Award in 2009. Ferrell had previously been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in L.A. Law (in 1992). A seasoned stage actress, Farrell's performance in the stage play The Sea Horse earned her an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award. Her big screen work included roles in such films as Network, Where the River Runs Black (1986), For Keeps (1988), Edward Scissorhands (1990), True Romance (1993), Erin Brockovich (2000) and Krampus (2015). Farrell's turn in the 1979 frontier western saga Heartland earned her a Western Heritage Award.

Early life Conchata Galen Ferrell was born March 28, 1943, in Loudendale, West Virginia, the first of two children, to Mescal Loraine (née George) and Luther Martin Ferrell. She was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. Her family later moved to Circleville, Ohio.

She attended West Virginia University for two years, dropped out, and after working several jobs, enrolled and graduated from Marshall University with a degree in history education. She made her first onstage performance at Marshall in 1969, in the second Barfenon Review, a skit comedy and musical production. and won the Drama Desk, Obie, and Theatre World Best Actress awards for her performance in the off-Broadway play The Sea Horse.

Acting on stage, television, and film for decades, she starred as the frontier wife in the 1979 feature film Heartland directed by Richard Pearce, and as the tough-talking owner of Mystic Pizza, co-starring alongside Lili Taylor, Annabeth Gish, and Julia Roberts, who portrayed pizza waitresses. She also played a tough, comical nurse on the short-lived 1980s TV sitcom E/R.

Ferrell portrayed Berta the housekeeper in the CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men, appearing in a total of 212 episodes from 2003 to 2015.

In 2012, she voiced the role of Bob's Mom in Frankenweenie, which was directed by Tim Burton. She was slated to appear in the upcoming feature film Deported (2020), and had earlier acted in A Very Nutty Christmas (2018), a holiday-themed television film.

Personal life Ferrell married Arnie Anderson around 1986. She had a daughter, Samantha (born in 1982), and two stepdaughters (born in 1976 and 1979).

Death Ferrell died on October 12, 2020, from complications following cardiac arrest at the Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. Year Title Role Director Notes Source 1974 Maude Rita Valdez Hal Cooper Episode: "Florida's Goodbye" Network Barbara Schlesinger Sidney Lumet Blansky's Beauties Nurse Gibbons Alan Rafkin Episode: "Nancy Breaks a Leg" Who'll Save Our Children? Dodie Hart George Schaefer 1979–1980B. J. and the BearWilhemina 'The Fox' JohnsonSeveral directors5 episodes1980 The Seduction of Miss Leona Hazel Dawson Joseph HardyTV movie Reunion Toni Owens Russ Mayberry Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case Helen Peter Levin Knots Landing Mrs. Messinger Edward Parone 2 episodes 1981 CBS Afternoon Playhouse Mamie Trotter Jeffrey Hayden Episode: "The Great Gilly Hopkins" McClain's Law Vangie Cruise Vincent McEveety TV movie (pilot for TV series McClain's Law) Lou Grant Myra Wexler Peter Levin Episode: "Drifters"1982 Quincy, M.E. Mrs. Werner Georg Fenady Episode: "Into the Murdering Mind" Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice Captain Burnsite Lamont Johnson TV movie CBS Summer Playhouse Kate David Trainer Episode: "Old Money" Mystic Pizza Leona Donald Petrie Dinosaurs Shelly Bruce Bilson Voice, episode: "Dirty Dancin'" Family Prayers Mrs. Romeyo Scott M. Rosenfelt Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Simpah Denise Downer Voice, episode: "Clockwise/Gromble Soup" 1997–1998 Teen Angel Pam Several directors 17 episodes1998 Modern Vampires Wanda Richard Elfman TV movie The Naked Truth Maxine Mansfield Robby Benson Episode: "Muddy for Nothing" Buffy the Vampire Slayer Nurse Greenliegh David Semel Episode: "Go Fish"1999 Touched by an Angel Irene Noel Nosseck Episode: "The Medium and the Message" Two Guys and a Girl Shawn's Mother Gil Junger Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and Valentine's Day" JAG Deanne Terrence O'Hara Episode: "Second Sight" Friends The Judge Gary Halvorson Episode: "The One with Joey's Porsche" The Axe Murders of Villisca Mrs. Flanks Tony E. Valenzuela Wishin' and Hopin' Sister Agrippina Colin Theys TV movie 2015 Krampus Aunt Dorothy Michael Dougherty The Axe Murders of Villisca Mrs. Flanks Tony E. Valenzuela 2017 The Ranch Shirley Don Reo & Jim Patterson 5 episodes 2018 A Very Nutty Christmas Clara Colin TheysTV movie

Awards and nominations