Concept art for Bert and Ernie.
Don Sahlin building Bert.
Bert courts Bertha in Episode 1207.
Jim Henson contemplates a Bert toy.
Bert as a weatherman in When You Wish Upon a Pickle
Bert is Ernie's best friend and roommate on Sesame Street. The pair share the basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street. In contrast to the practical-joking, extroverted Ernie, Bert is serious, studious, and tries to make sense of his friend's actions. His own passions include reading Boring Stories, collecting paper clips and bottle caps (especially the rare Figgy Fizz), eating oatmeal, and studying pigeons. While Ernie's best companion outside of Bert is Rubber Duckie, Bert has his pet pigeon, Bernice. True to his detail-oriented, organized mind, Bert is president of the National Association of W Lovers. Unfortunately for Bert, his nose has come off of his face on a number of occasions. He has a distinctive, bleating laugh.
Unlike Ernie, who has appeared regularly in Sesame Street material without him, Bert has not been seen without Ernie as frequently. Notable instances of this happening include the songs "Doin' the Pigeon," "The Subway," "Bert's Blanket," and "Stick Out Your Hand and Say Hello" with Rick Moranis, occasional Muppet and Kid scenes, like discussing emotions with John John, and various street stories in the '70s.
Bert has made cameos during the group shots of The Muppet Movie and The Muppets Take Manhattan, getting a line of dialogue in the latter film. He also appears in both Sesame Street movies, riding with Ernie in a plane during Follow That Bird, and interrupting The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland whenever it looked like the movie was becoming unsettling.
Bert's extended family includes his identical twin brother salesman Bart, infant nephew Brad, and several unseen relatives, including his Aunt Matilda, Uncle Bart (who gave Bert his first paper clip), and great-great-grandfather Mountain Mike. The album Sesame Street Sing-Along! also refers to Bert's Uncle Louie, who lives on a farm.
Bert and Ernie were the only Muppets to appear in the Sesame Street Pilot Episodes, and they also hosted This Way to Sesame Street, a special sneak preview special promoting Sesame Street.