Grew up in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Michigan before family settled in California

Appeared in several TV commercials

Made early TV appearances on the CBS drama series, "Apple's Way"

Played Barbara Cooper (later Barbara Cooper Royer) on the popular CBS sitcom, "One Day at a Time"

Played first dramatic leading role on TV, in the CBS hour-long special, "The Secret of Charles Dickens"

Essayed leading role in the feature film, "C.H.O.M.P.S."

Formed her own production company, Bertinelli, Inc.

Returned to feature films to play one of the leads in "Number One with a Bullet"

Starred as Maxi Amberville in the four-part CBS miniseries, "I'll Take Manhattan", based on the Judith Krantz novel

Played title role in short-lived CBS sitcom, "Sydney", featuring theme music by her husband, Eddie Van Halen

Starred in the CBS miniseries "In a Child's Name", as a woman fighting for custody of her nephew

Returned to series work as star of the NBC sitcom "Cafe Americain"

Portrayed a lesbian struggling to retain custody of her child in the TV-movie "Two Mothers For Zachary" (ABC)

Cast as an investigative agent looking into the disappearance of a child in the CBS miniseries "Night Sins"

Returned to series TV, joining the cast of the long-running "Touched By an Angel" (CBS) in spring

Played herself in the dark comedy "Saved!" starring Jena Malone