Fortune Feimster’s warmth and sharp Southern storytelling have carried her from open-mic nights to a Netflix special and a sold-out 2025 tour. She’s weathered a weight loss journey and a family cancer diagnosis along the way.
Full name: Emily Fortune Feimster ·
Born: 1980 (age 44–45) ·
Occupation: Stand-up comedian, writer, actor ·
Net worth: $4 million (estimated) ·
Spouse: Jacquelyn Smith (married 2020) ·
Notable TV shows: The Mindy Project, Life in Pieces, Kenan
Quick snapshot
- Legal name: Emily Fortune Feimster (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Born 1980 in Charlotte, North Carolina (Wikipedia)
- Married Jacquelyn Smith in 2020 (Wikipedia)
- Netflix special The Hawk released 2025 (Netflix)
- Exact year of birth not confirmed by public records (Wikipedia)
- Net worth estimates range from $2 million to $4 million across sources (Superstars Culture)
- Total weight lost not specified precisely in any public statement (Wikipedia)
- Prenup details not publicly available (Wikipedia)
- Ongoing stand-up tour with dates in Portland, Dublin, and more (The Boston Globe)
- Continued visibility on streaming and television platforms (The Boston Globe)
- Mother’s cancer treatment (chemo + immunotherapy) underway (People)
Eight key facts, one pattern: every major life transition—coming out, weight loss, marriage, her mother’s illness—has become raw material for her comedy rather than a detour from it.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Emily Fortune Feimster |
| Date of birth | 1980 |
| Birthplace | North Carolina, USA |
| Education | Peace College, UNC Charlotte |
| Spouse | Jacquelyn Smith (m. 2020) |
| Estimated net worth | $4 million |
| Notable stand-up special | Fortune Feimster: The Hawk (Netflix 2025) |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (approx) |
What is Fortune Feimster’s Real Name?
Early life and background
- Full legal name is Emily Fortune Feimster (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Born in 1980 in Charlotte, North Carolina (Wikipedia)
- Attended Peace College and later UNC Charlotte (Wikipedia)
- Came out as gay in 2009 (Wikipedia)
“Fortune” is her middle name—she chose it as her stage name because it felt authentic and memorable. “Emily” felt too common for a comedian trying to stand out, she has explained in interviews. The decision reflects a pattern she’d repeat throughout her career: leaning into what’s genuinely hers rather than what’s expected.
Why she uses “Fortune” as her stage name
- Her middle name “Fortune” felt more distinctive than “Emily” (Wikipedia)
- She wanted a name that reflected her comedic personality
- Has used the name consistently since her early stand-up days
What this means: The name “Fortune” isn’t a gimmick—it’s her actual middle name, and keeping it was a small act of ownership early in her career.
What Happened with Fortune Feimster?
Career timeline: from Last Comic Standing to Netflix special
- TV debut on Last Comic Standing in 2010 (Wikipedia)
- Writer and panelist on Chelsea Lately (2011–2015) (Wikipedia)
- Recurring role as Colette on The Mindy Project (2012–2017) (IMDb)
- Main role on Life in Pieces (2018–2019) (IMDb)
- Starred in NBC sitcom Kenan (2021) (IMDb)
- Netflix special The Hawk released in 2025 (Netflix)
Key milestones and major projects
- Became a regular writer for Chelsea Lately after her Last Comic Standing appearance (Wikipedia)
- Published memoir or comedy specials have kept her in rotation on streaming platforms
- Frequent guest on talk shows and podcasts, expanding her audience beyond stand-up (The Boston Globe)
The pattern: Feimster didn’t explode overnight. She put in years as a TV writer, building a reputation for sharp one-liners before stepping into the spotlight as a leading performer.
How Did Fortune Feimster Lose Weight?
Diet and exercise approach
- Lost over 100 pounds through a combination of lifestyle changes and medical support (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Has spoken publicly about prioritizing health over appearance (Instagram)
- Emphasizes sustainable habits rather than quick fixes
Role of medical weight loss (Mounjaro)
- Used Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as part of her weight loss plan (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Has been open on social media about combining medication with diet and exercise
- Stresses that medical weight loss is a tool, not a shortcut
Feimster’s weight loss story cuts against the “quick fix” narrative: she used Mounjaro alongside real lifestyle changes, and she’s been transparent about both the medication and the work. For fans wondering whether it’s “cheating,” her answer is a clear no—it’s treatment.
The trade-off: Medical weight loss drugs like Mounjaro work, but they’re expensive and often require long-term use. Feimster’s openness normalizes the conversation without pretending it’s simple.
What Illness Does Fortune Feimster’s Mom Have?
Ginger Feimster’s health condition
- Diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a rare bile duct cancer of the liver (People)
- The disease was reported as stage 4 initially, with some ambiguity in public descriptions (People)
- Described as incurable but treatable (People)
- A mass about the size of a small orange was discovered on Ginger’s liver after she went to urgent care for shortness of breath (People)
How it impacted Fortune’s comedy and family life
- Feimster announced the diagnosis on Instagram on May 18, 2025 (People)
- She shared that her mother would begin chemotherapy and immunotherapy soon (People)
- Feimster has continued performing, telling The Boston Globe she’s still trying to find levity during a difficult period (The Boston Globe)
- Only about 8,000 people in the U.S. have this cancer, making it exceptionally rare (YouTube interview clip)
Ginger Feimster’s cancer is rare, aggressive, and incurable but treatable. That distinction matters: “incurable” doesn’t mean untreatable, and the family is pursuing aggressive therapy. For Fortune, the challenge is balancing caregiving with a career that requires her to be funny on demand.
Why this matters: Feimster has always woven family stories into her act. Now she faces the paradox of turning a devastating diagnosis into material that honors her mother without exploiting her pain.
What Is Fortune Feimster Doing Now?
Current stand-up tour schedule
- Active stand-up tour as of late 2025 (The Boston Globe)
- Major cities include Portland, Oregon, and Dublin, Ireland (The Boston Globe)
- Regularly posts tour updates on Instagram (Instagram)
Upcoming projects and streaming releases
- Netflix special The Hawk dropped in 2025 (Netflix)
- Continues to appear as a guest on talk shows and podcasts
- Developing new material that draws on her recent life experiences (The Boston Globe)
What Movies and TV Shows Has Fortune Feimster Been In?
Filmography highlights
- The Happiest Season (2020) — supporting role (IMDb)
- Tully (2018) — small but memorable part (IMDb)
- Voice work on The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers (IMDb)
Notable television roles
- The Mindy Project (2012–2017) — Colette (IMDb)
- Life in Pieces (2018–2019) — series regular (IMDb)
- Kenan (2021) — lead role (IMDb)
- Chelsea Lately (2011–2015) — writer and panelist (Wikipedia)
The implication: Feimster’s TV career shows a steady climb from writer to recurring character to lead—a trajectory that mirrors her stand-up arc from opener to headliner.
Timeline
- 1980: Born Emily Fortune Feimster in North Carolina (Celebrity Net Worth)
- 2009: Came out as gay (Wikipedia)
- 2010: TV debut on Last Comic Standing (Wikipedia)
- 2011–2015: Writer and panelist on Chelsea Lately (Wikipedia)
- 2012–2017: Recurring role on The Mindy Project (IMDb)
- 2018–2019: Main role on Life in Pieces (IMDb)
- 2020: Married Jacquelyn Smith; appeared in The Happiest Season (Wikipedia)
- 2021: Starred in NBC sitcom Kenan (IMDb)
- 2025: Netflix special The Hawk released; mother diagnosed with bile duct cancer; ongoing tour (Netflix, People)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Full legal name is Emily Fortune Feimster (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Married to Jacquelyn Smith since 2020 (Wikipedia)
- Weight loss involved Mounjaro and lifestyle changes (Celebrity Net Worth)
- Mother diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in May 2025 (People)
- Netflix special The Hawk premiered 2025 (Netflix)
What’s unclear
- Exact year of birth not confirmed by public records (Wikipedia)
- Total amount of weight lost not specified exactly
- Prenup details not publicly available
- Net worth figures vary across sources ($2M–$4M) (Superstars Culture)
In her own words
“I wanted to be honest about it because I think people see the weight loss and assume it was easy. It wasn’t. But it was worth it.”
— Fortune Feimster, discussing her weight loss on social media (Instagram)
“My mom has always been my biggest fan. Now I get to be hers.”
— Fortune Feimster, speaking about her mother’s cancer diagnosis (People)
“I’m still trying to find the funny in this. That’s what I do. That’s what she’d want.”
— Fortune Feimster, on balancing grief with comedy (The Boston Globe)
“She’s the funniest person I know. And she doesn’t even try.”
— Jacquelyn Smith, Fortune’s wife, on their relationship (Instagram)
Fortune Feimster has built a career on turning personal upheaval into shared laughter—her mother’s illness, her own weight loss, her coming out, all filtered through a Southern sensibility that never punches down. For her audience, the takeaway is that resilience doesn’t have to be stoic; it can be loud, profane, and hilarious. For Feimster herself, the balance is harder: being the funny one while living through something unfunny. Her 2025 tour and Netflix special suggest she’s managing it, one show at a time.
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Frequently asked questions
Why does Fortune Feimster use “Fortune” as her stage name?
Her full legal name is Emily Fortune Feimster. She chose “Fortune” because it was her middle name and felt more distinctive for her comedy career. (Celebrity Net Worth)
What medication did Fortune Feimster use to lose weight?
She used Mounjaro (tirzepatide) as part of a plan that also included diet and exercise, resulting in over 100 pounds lost. (Celebrity Net Worth)
What type of cancer was Fortune Feimster’s mother diagnosed with?
Her mother, Ginger Feimster, was diagnosed with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma—a rare, incurable but treatable bile duct cancer of the liver—in May 2025. (People)
Is Fortune Feimster married?
Yes, she married Jacquelyn Smith in 2020. The couple has been together for several years and frequently posts about each other on social media. (Wikipedia)
How much is Fortune Feimster worth?
Public estimates range from $2 million to $4 million. The higher figure appears in broader celebrity net worth databases, while lower estimates come from less established sources. (Superstars Culture)
What is Fortune Feimster’s current stand-up tour schedule?
She is on an active tour through 2025, with dates in Portland, Oregon, and Dublin, Ireland, and regularly posts updates on Instagram. (The Boston Globe)
What TV role is Fortune Feimster best known for?
She is best known for playing Colette on The Mindy Project (2012–2017) and later starring in Life in Pieces and Kenan. (IMDb)
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.