Conchata Ferrell

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title: "Conchata Ferrell" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1943-births", "2020-deaths", "20th-century-american-actresses", "21st-century-american-actresses", "actresses-from-charleston,-west-virginia", "american-film-actresses", "american-methodists", "american-stage-actresses", "american-television-actresses", "california-democrats", "drama-desk-award-winners", "marshall-university-alumni", "ohio-democrats", "west-virginia-democrats", "west-virginia-university-alumni"] description: "American actress (1943–2020)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conchata_Ferrell" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American actress (1943–2020) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
image	Conchata Ferrell 1981.jpg
caption	Ferrell in 1981
birth_name	Conchata Galen Ferrell
birth_date
birth_place	Loudendale, West Virginia, U.S.
death_date
death_place	Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
burial_place	Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, U.S.
education	Marshall University (BA)
occupation	Actress
years_active	1964–2020
spouse
children	1
::

| image = Conchata Ferrell 1981.jpg | caption = Ferrell in 1981 | birth_name = Conchata Galen Ferrell | birth_date = | birth_place = Loudendale, West Virginia, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = Sherman Oaks, California, U.S. | burial_place = Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio, U.S. | education = Marshall University (BA) | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1964–2020 | spouse = | children = 1 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). 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).

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.

Career

Ferrell began her career on the stage as a member of the Circle Repertory Company. She appeared in the original off-Broadway cast of Lanford Wilson's The Hot l Baltimore 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.

In 1992, she received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her recurring role as Attorney Susan Bloom on the sixth season of L.A. Law, but lost to Valerie Mahaffey for Northern Exposure. She had previously appeared in an episode of the show in 1988 as Lorna Landsberg, an entirely different character. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Conchata_Ferrell_2016.png" caption="Ferrell in 2016"] ::

Ferrell's supporting roles in films include performances in Deadly Hero, Network, Edward Scissorhands, Erin Brockovich, Crime and Punishment in Suburbia, Mr. Deeds, and K-PAX, as well as a small part in True Romance. Her other television credits include Maude, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hot l Baltimore, Teen Angel, Matlock, B. J. and the Bear, Good Times, Hearts Afire, Townies, Night Court, The Love Boat, and Push, Nevada. She played Mrs. Werner in the episode of Quincy, M.E. titled "Into the Murdering Mind" (1982). She also made memorable appearances portraying blunt, authoritative judges (the "Jagged Sledge" episode of Sledge Hammer! in 1987, and on "The One with Joey's Porsche" episode of Friends in 1999).

She accepted a role in the off-Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore for an April 27 through May 29, 2011, run with Minka Kelly, AnnaLynne McCord, Anne Meara, and B. Smith.

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).

Ferrell was a self-described Democrat and a practicing Methodist. She was a member of both the Circleville Church of Christ in Circleville, Ohio and the Sherman Oaks United Methodist Church in Sherman Oaks, California.

Death

Ferrell died on October 12, 2020, from complications following cardiac arrest at the Sherman Oaks Hospital in Sherman Oaks, California. She was 77 years old.

Filmography

Source(s) ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Director	Notes	Source
1974	Maude	Rita Valdez	Hal Cooper	Episode: "Florida's Goodbye"
1975	Hot l Baltimore	April Green	Bob LaHendro & Burt Brinckerhoff	13 episodes
1976	Deadly Hero	Slugger Ann	Ivan Nagy
Network	Barbara Schlesinger	Sidney Lumet
1977	The Rockford Files	Ella Mae White	Reza Badiyi	Episode: "Crack Back"
Mixed Nuts	Nurse Cassidy	Jerry Belson & Peter H. Hunt	Short
Blansky's Beauties	Nurse Gibbons	Alan Rafkin	Episode: "Nancy Breaks a Leg"
The Girl Called Hatter Fox	Nurse Rinehart	George Schaefer	TV movie
Good Times	Miss Johnson	Gerren Keith	Episode: "Willona, the Fuzz"
One Day at a Time	Phyllis McDermott	Herbert Kenwith	Episode: "The Singles Bar"
1978	A Death in Canaan	Rita Parsons	Tony Richardson	TV movie
Who'll Save Our Children?	Dodie Hart	George Schaefer (2)
1979	The Love Boat	Bitsy Sheldon	Roger Duchowny	2 episodes
Heartland	Elinore Randall Stewart	Richard Pearce
Before and After	Marge	Kim Friedman	TV movie
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo	The Fox	Bruce Bilson	2 episodes
1979–1980	B. J. and the Bear	Wilhemina 'The Fox' Johnson	Several directors	5 episodes
1980	The Seduction of Miss Leona	Hazel Dawson	Joseph Hardy	TV 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 (2)	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
Cagney & Lacey	Charlene	Reza Badiyi (2)	Episode: "High Steel"
1983	St. Elsewhere	Gina Barnett	Mark Tinker	Episode: "Hearts"
American Playhouse	Faye Doyle	Michael Dinner	Episode: "Miss Lonelyhearts"
Emergency Room	Nurse Sylvia Kaye	Lee H. Katzin	TV movie
1984	Nadia	Mili Simonescu	Alan Cooke
Faerie Tale Theatre	Thumbelina's Mother	Michael Lindsay-Hogg	Episode: "Thumbelina"
The Three Wishes of Billy Grier	Dr. Gardner	Corey Blechman	TV movie
1984–1985	E/R	Nurse Joan Thor	Peter Bonerz	22 episodes
1985	This Is the Life		Sharron Miller	Episode: "The Stranger"
North Beach and Rawhide	Doc Norman	Harry Falk	TV movie
1986	Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story	Ida Sinclair	Richard T. Heffron
Where the River Runs Black	Mother Marta	Christopher Cain
Picnic	Helen Potts	Marshall W. Mason	TC movie
Matlock	Mrs. Reese	Alan Cooke (2)	Episode: "The Sisters"
1987	Night Court	Nurse	Jim Drake	Episode: "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson"
Sledge Hammer!	Judge Ida Gruff	Reza Badiyi (3)	Episode: "Jagged Sledge"
Frank's Place	Jan Rudy	Hugh Wilson	Episode: "The Bridge"
Eye on the Sparrow	Mary	John Korty	TV movie
1988	Hooperman	Eva Parker	Rick Wallace	Episode: "The Snitch"
For Keeps	Mrs. Bobrucz	John G. Avildsen
Who's the Boss?	Frances	James Eric Hornbeck	Episode: "Housekeepers Unite"
Sonny Spoon	Tough Habit	Dick Miller	Episode: "Tough Habit"
CBS Summer Playhouse	Kate	David Trainer	Episode: "Old Money"
Mystic Pizza	Leona	Donald Petrie
ABC Weekend Special	Aunt Jill	Ron Underwood	Episode: "Runaway Ralph"
Goodbye, Miss 4th of July	Minnie Bixby	George Miller	TV movie
Portrait of a White Marriage	Mrs. Sturgeon	Harry Shearer
1988 & 1991–1992	L.A. Law	Susan Bloom / Lorna Landsberg	Several directors	20 episodes
1989	A Peaceable Kingdom	Kate Galindo	Mark Waxman	10 episodes
Murder, She Wrote	Harriet Lundgren	John Llewellyn Moxey	Episode: "Something Borrowed, Someone Blue"
Your Mother Wears Combat Boots	Specialist Mononaghee	Anson Williams	TV movie
Hard Time on Planet Earth	Annie	James A. Contner	Episode: "The Hot Dog Man"
1990	Hollywood Dog		William Dear	TV movie
Opposites Attract	Flo	Noel Nosseck
Edward Scissorhands	Helen	Tim Burton
1991	Deadly Intentions... Again?	Joan	James Steven Sadwith	TV movie
Chains of Gold	Martha Burke	Rod Holcomb
Backfield in Motion	Ann Bedowski	Richard Michaels
1992–1995	Hearts Afire	Dr. Madeline Stoessinger / Dr. Ruth Colquist	Several directors	33 episodes
1993	The Legend of Prince Valiant	Girl		Voice, episode: "The Sage"
Dinosaurs	Shelly	Bruce Bilson (2)	Voice, episode: "Dirty Dancin'"
Family Prayers	Mrs. Romeyo	Scott M. Rosenfelt
Sirens	Mrs. Chattle	TBA	Episode: "Keeping the Peace"
True Romance	Mary Louise Ravencroft	Tony Scott
Cobra	Bobby Gutner	Jorge Montesi	Episode: "Honeymoon Hideaway"
Heaven & Earth	Bernice	Oliver Stone
1994	Samurai Cowboy	Bobbi Bob Pickette	Michael Keusch
A Worn Path	Nurse	Bruce Schwartz
Duckman	Roxanne	Jeff McGrath & John Eng	Voice, 2 episodes
1995	The Buccaneers	Mrs. Elmsworth	Philip Saville	Miniseries; episode: "Invasion"
The Mask: Animated Series	Willamina Bubask		Voice, episode: "How Much Is That Dog in the Tin Can?"
The Client	Rue	James Quinn	Episode: "The Way Things Never Were"
1996	Freeway	Mrs. Sheets	Matthew Bright
Minor Adjustments	Mrs. Daisy Gotschel		Episode: "The Ungrateful Dead"
Walker, Texas Ranger	Lureen Smith	Michael Preece	Episode: "Miracle at Middle Creek"
Sweet Dreams	Dr. Kate Lowe	Jack Bender	TV movie
Townies	Marge	Pamela Fryman	2 episodes
My Fellow Americans	Woman Truck Driver	Peter Segal
1997	Touch	Virginia Worrel	Paul Schrader
ABC TGIF	Pam		Episode: "Frightful Halloween Bash"
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters	Simpah	Denise Downer	Voice, episode: "Clockwise/Gromble Soup"
1997–1998	Teen Angel	Pam	Several directors	17 episodes
1998	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"
Chicken Soup for the Soul	Mrs. Patterson		Episode: "Crying's Okay"
2000	Crime and Punishment in Suburbia	Bella	Rob Schmidt
Erin Brockovich	Brenda	Steven Soderbergh
Get Real	Rosa Hernandez	Richard Compton	Episode: "Support"
Pensacola	Helen Wilson	Sidney J. Furie	Episode: "Answered Prayers"
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command	Ma Munchapper	Steve Loter	Voice, 3 episodes
2000 & 2003	The Wild Thornberrys	Harriet, Grizzly Bear	Carol Millican & Dean Crisswell	Voice, 2 episodes
2001	Stranger Inside	Mama Cass	Cheryl Dunye	TV movie
Popular	Calamity Jones	Ryan Murphy	Episode: "The News of My Death Has Been Greatly Exaggerated"
The Zeta Project	Dr. Greer	Rob Davies	Voice, episode: "The Next Gen"
Amy & Isabelle	Bev	Lloyd Kramer	TV movie
Going to California	Nurse Lucy	D.j. Caruso	Episode: "I Know Why the Caged Rhino Sings"
ER	Mrs. Jenkins	Christopher Misiano	Episode: "Four Corners"
K-PAX	Betty McAllister	Iain Softley
2002	Sabrina the Teenage Witch	Bus Driver	Beth Broderick	Episode: "Guilty!"
Mr. Deeds	Jan	Steven Brill
Lloyd in Space	Miss Effluvium	Howy Parkins	Voice, episode: "Incident at Luna Vista"
Push, Nevada	Martha	Lisa Cholodenko	Episode: "The Letter of the Law"
2003	Becker	Zora	Chris Brougham	Episode: "Ms. Fortune"
Judging Amy	Maxine's Co-Worker	Alan Myerson	Episode: "Kilt Trip"
2003–2015	Two and a Half Men	Berta	Several directors	Recurring role (season 1); Main role (seasons 2–12)
2004	Surviving Eden	Rosemary Flotchky	Greg Pritikin
2007	Kabluey	Kathleen	Scott Prendergast
2012	Frankenweenie	Bob's Mom	Tim Burton	Voice
2013	Not That, But Something Like That		Benjamin Hasko	Short
2014	Postal Jerks	Carmelita	James Skinner	TV movie	last=Teti
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
2016	Grace and Frankie	Grandma Jean	Trent O'Donnell	Episode: "The Negotiation"
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 Theys	TV movie
2020	Deported	Betsy	Tyler Spindel	Posthumous release
::

Awards and nominations

::data[format=table]

Year	Award	Category	Title of work	Result	Source
1974	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Performance	The Sea Horse	rowspan=4
Theatre World Award
Obie Award	Best Actress	last=Andreeva	first=Nellie	date=October 13, 2020	title=Conchata Ferrell Dies: Former 'Two and a Half Men' Co-Star Was 77
1981	Western Heritage Awards	Bronze Wrangler	Heartland (shared with cast)
1992	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	L.A. Law	rowspan=3	title=Nominees / Winners 1992
2005	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Two and a Half Men
2007
::

References

References

1. Seaton, Carter. (Summer 2010). "Conchata Ferrell". HQ Publishing Co..
2. "Conchata Ferrell Biography". Yahoo! Movies.
3. (September 26, 2018). "Conchata Ferrell".
4. Gates, Anita. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell, Memorable Maid on 'Two and a Half Men,' Dies at 77". The New York Times.
5. Kerr, Walter. (March 4, 1973). "Kerr on 'The Hot L Baltimore' / The Crazies Are Good to Listen to". [[The New York Times]].
6. Gussow, Mel. (March 5, 1974). "Stage: 2 Poignant Characters in Irwin's 'Sea Horse' / Fine Acting by Moore and Miss Ferrell". [[The New York Times]].
7. Gussow, Mel. (April 16, 1974). "Stage: 'The Sea Horse' / Circle Repertory Gives Tender, Wistful Play". [[The New York Times]].
8. Kerr, Walter. (April 21, 1974). "Kerr on 'The Sea Horse' / The Human Heart, Imprisoned". [[The New York Times]].
9. Gussow, Mel. (April 22, 1974). "'The Sea Horse' Star (and Its Author) Sheds Alias". [[The New York Times]].
10. Gans, Andrew. (April 14, 2011). "Minka Kelly, Susan Sullivan Set for Love, Loss... Off-Broadway". [[Playbill]].
11. "Nominees / Winners 2005".
12. "Nominees / Winners 2007".
13. "Bob's Mother".
14. DeNinno, Nadine. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell, 'Two and a Half Men' and 'Mystic Pizza' star, dead at 77". New York Post.
15. Stewart, Susan. (November 7, 1991). "Heavyweight Attorney: For Conchata Ferrell Of 'L.A. Law', Fat Works Fine". [[Chicago Tribune]].
16. "Conchata Ferrell".
17. ''An Interview with Conchata Ferrell'', Scott Hettrick, November 12, 1981
18. Zoe Hewitt, ''An Interview with Conchata Ferrell'', 2007
19. "Conchata Ferrell".
20. "Conchata Ferrell Filmography and Movies".
21. "DEADLY HERO (1975) -- SCREEN ARCHIVES ENTERTAINMENT".
22. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell, 'Two and a Half Men' star, dies at 77".
23. "A Death in Canaan".
24. "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series) (1979)".
25. "Rape and Marriage:The Rideout Case".
26. (October 9, 2020). "Relive TV's soapy glory days at the 'Knots Landing' virtual reunion".
27. "Sonny Spoon".
28. "Conchata Ferrell".
29. Littleton, Cynthia. (July 27, 2017). "Hulu Recreates ABC's 'TGIF' Comedy Lineup With 'Full House,' 'Family Matters' and More".
30. Teti, Julia. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell: 5 Things To Know About 'Two & a Half Men' Co-Star, 77, Dead After Heart Attack".
31. "Film Mode".
32. "Wishin' and Hopin' – Stargazer Films".
33. (October 14, 2020). "Appreciation: Conchata Ferrell was the kind of actor you wanted to see in everything".
34. (June 10, 2017). "The Axe Murders of Villisca (2017) Review".
35. (June 4, 2019). "The Ranch to End With Season 4".
36. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell, Co-star of Two and a Half Men, Has Died Aged 77".
37. Andreeva, Nellie. (October 13, 2020). "Conchata Ferrell Dies: Former 'Two and a Half Men' Co-Star Was 77".
38. (1981). "Western Heritage Awards: Film clips". KOCO-TV.
39. "Nominees / Winners 1992".

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