For 12 seasons, Conchata Ferrell played sharp-tonged housekeeper Berta on CBS’ Two and a Half Men. Starting off as a recurring character in Season 1, Berta quickly became a fan favorite, and Ferrell became a series regular for the remainder of the sitcom’s long run on CBS, earning two Emmy nominations. Following Ferrell’s death at age 77, the creators and stars of Two and a Half Men are paying tribute to their former colleague and friend.
Co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre mourned the loss of Ferrell, recalling the time they worked together on the CBS comedy.
“We called her Chatty. And we all loved her,” Lorre said in a statement. “Twelve years of highs and lows, and lots and lots of laughter. Through it all she was a rock. One of the greats. I was privileged to call her a friend.”
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Fellow Two and a Half Men co-creator/exec producer Lee Aronsohn remembered Ferrell as “a warm, wonderful woman who was always a joy to be around on set.”
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Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer, who played Alan Harper for 12 seasons, praised Ferrell’s skill and personality. He recalled meeting the actress for the first time while shooting Two And A Half Men.
“It was our second episode and I felt so lucky that they’d been able to cast her on the show. I gushed to her about what a fan I was of hers and she simply refused to believe it,” Cryer tweeted.
From recalling his favorite Farrell comedy bits to honoring the actress’s notable body of work including Edward Scissorhands and Erin Brockovich, Cryer said the world would surely miss her talent and humor.
“She was a beautiful human. Berta’s gruff exterior was an invention of the writers. Chatty’s warmth and vulnerability were her real strengths,” he wrote. “I’m crying for the woman I’ll miss, and the joy she brought so many.”
Added Cryer, “I’m glad that I absolutely knew how fortunate I was to share a stage with her. I treasured every moment and will continue to until we meet again. I have a feeling she’ll call me ‘Zippy’.” That is a reference to the nickname Berta had for Alan on the show.
Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen, who played Charlie Harper for the first eight seasons, remembered his co-star in a sweet Twitter tribute.
“An absolute sweetheart, a consummate pro, a genuine friend. A shocking and painful loss,” Sheen wrote above a picture of him as Charlie and Ferrell as Berta sharing a drink in a scene from the show. “Berta, your housekeeping was a tad suspect, your ‘people’ keeping was perfect.”
Marin Hinkle, who played Alan’s first wife on the show for its entire run, also shared a photo with Ferrell on Twitter.
“Though it was called Two And a Half Men, Berta was perhaps the female heart and soul of the show,” Hinkle wrote. “Conchata Ferrell‘s joy and comic brilliance inspired and moved me every day we shared. Chatty – I’ll miss your generous and deeply loving spirit so very much! My heart is broken.”
Melanie Lynskey, who played Charlie’s stalker neighbor Rose, remembered how Ferrell’s husband came to every taping of Two and a Half Men and sat in the audience, “beaming with pride,” with Ferrell’s daughter also often joining him.
“Lovely, brilliant Chatti. I’m weeping,” Lynskey wrote. “She was the warmest, most gracious lady.”
Amber Tamblyn, who co-starred on the last two seasons of Two and a Half Men as Charlie Harper’s long lost daughter, did not hear the news of Ferrell’s death until Wednesday. She immediately took to Twitter to pay her respects. “Rest In Peace, Conchata,” Tamblyn wrote above a photo from the show. “It was a joy working with you on 2.5 Men for two seasons.”
Ferrell died of complications following a cardiac arrest.
RIP Conchata Ferrell.
A warm, wonderful woman who was always a joy to be around on set.
My heart goes out to her husband Arnie, who was *always* by her side.
Bye, Chatty.@MrJonCryer @HollandTaylor pic.twitter.com/BTt3oQxO9j
— Lee Aronsohn (@BennyAce) October 13, 2020
She was a beautiful human
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. https://t.co/SucL6gFaAR
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) October 13, 2020
My Thoughts are with Arnie, Samantha, her family, and the many students whose lives she touched at UCLA.
2020 is just merciless.#RIPConchataFerrell
— Jon Cryer (@MrJonCryer) October 13, 2020
an absolute sweetheart
a consummate pro
a genuine friend
a shocking and painful loss.Berta,
your housekeeping
was a tad suspect,
your "people"keeping was perfect.💕©️💕 pic.twitter.com/cJMK8APgQV
— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) October 13, 2020
Though it was called #TwoAndAHalfMen, Berta was perhaps the female heart and soul of the show.#ConchataFerrell ‘s joy and comic brilliance inspired and moved me every day we shared.
Chatty – I’ll miss your generous and deeply loving spirit so very much! My heart is broken.💔 pic.twitter.com/YywJprPgnX
— Marin Hinkle (@_MarinHinkle) October 14, 2020
Lovely, brilliant Chatti. I'm weeping. She was the warmest, most gracious lady. Her husband Arnie came to every single taping of Two And A Half Men and sat in the audience, beaming with pride. Her sweet daughter Samantha was often there too. Oh, she was loved. She will be missed. https://t.co/38Nu2QGF6L
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) October 13, 2020
Oh I don’t know how I missed this sad news. Rest In Peace, Conchata. It was a joy working with you on 2.5 Men for two seasons. #RIPConchataFerrell pic.twitter.com/XSHXug0PIP
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) October 14, 2020
