Though she had a long career, Ferrell will likely be remembered by most for her role as the tough-talking housekeeper Berta on the hit comedy Two and a Half Men for 12 seasons—a role that earned her two Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy nominations, in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
“She was a beautiful human,” Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer tweeted. “Berta’s gruff exterior was an invention of the writers. Chatty’s warmth and vulnerability were her real strengths. I’m crying for the woman I’ll miss, and the joy she brought so many.”
Charlie Sheen also starred with Ferrell on the show from its first season in 2003 until his well-documented exit from the series in 2011. The actor called her “an absolute sweetheart” and “a consummate pro.”
Two and a Half Men didn’t net Ferrell her only Emmy nominations. Her first came in 1992, with an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for her role as Susan Bloom on the drama L.A. Law. Her long television career also included appearances on hit shows like Good Times, ER, Grace and Frankie, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Fans and people in the entertainment industry will remember her for her diversity in all manner of acting mediums. The West Virginia native landed many parts in well-known films over the years. She was the lead actress opposite Rip Torn in 1979’s Heartland and had supporting roles in Network, Mystic Pizza, True Romance, Edward Scissorhands, Erin Brockovich and Frankenweenie.
She also found success on the stage, especially as an original member of the off-Broadway Circle Repertory Theatre. In 1974, she achieved her greatest critical success for her stage work when she received an Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award for The Sea Horse.
“Conchata Ferrell was exactly the kind of artist for whom we created our theater—a deeply honest performer who would inspire our playwrights to create roles for her,” said Circle Repertory Theatre’s founding artistic director, Marshall W. Mason in a statement. “She was our first home-grown star.”
Ferrell’s recent credits include Netflix’s The Ranch, the TV movie A Very Nutty Christmas, and the upcoming feature film Deported. She died on October 12, as a result of complications following a cardiac arrest in Sherman Oaks, California.
