Berta is Charlie’s sharp tongued housekeeper, though she doesn’t like being called Charlie’s “maid”. She is generally opinionated and doesn’t like being bossed around. She always had fun teasing the Harper brothers and likes seeing things blow up with them. Charlie depends on her so much that when Berta quits because he is dating a mean woman named Lydia, Charlie not only broke up with her, he also agreed to go to a sex addicts meeting at Berta’s request.

Charlie claims that Berta is like family to him, and they are actually best friends, though neither of them would ever acknowledge it. Berta never really liked Alan, he always refers to him as “Zippy”, and she also dislikes Jake’s sloppiness and is always angered when Jake leaves urine on the toilet seat.

Conchata Ferrell plays the role of Berta. Conchata was from Charleston, West Virginia. She is a character actress appearing in a number of films such as Network, Edward Scissorhands, Erin Brockovich, Mr. Deeds and on TV series such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Good Times, Teen Angel, and received an Emmy Award Nomination for her role as Berta.