Fortune Feimster
A physical storyteller whose Southern childhood memories bridge divided comedy audiences.
5 specials · 2014–2024
Start with Sweet & Salty, the breakout (2020 · 61 min · Netflix)
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Fortune Feimster paces the stage with the comfortable amble of someone telling a story at a diner. She will spend three minutes setting up an anecdote about a North Carolina church parking lot, her voice staying low and conversational. Then she steps back, her eyes go wide, and she throws her entire body into a recreation of eating Fun Dip on a grade-school swim team. The rhythm of her sets relies on this contrast: the slow, chatty wind-up followed by an enormous, physical punchline. She does not do deadpan. When a joke lands, she beams, inviting the room to enjoy the absurdity exactly as much as she does.
Specials
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A sweet-natured hour of domestic storytelling and relationship comedy.
Netflix · 64 min
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A half-hour set covering North Carolina roots and disastrous edibles.
Netflix · 30 min
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Comedy Central Stand-Up Presents
A cheerful set about family dynamics and late-in-life lesbian realization.
Comedy Central · 21 min
On stage
As a touring theater act, she plays to deeply mixed crowds. She pulls in queer fans, suburban families, and Southern locals, functioning as a bridge comic in an era of highly segmented audiences. Her television work on shows like The Mindy Project built her initial base, but her stage act expanded it into a massive, wide-tent draw across the country.
Her material pulls from her upbringing in Belmont, North Carolina, focusing heavily on late-bloomer awkwardness and an unironic love for regional chain restaurants. When she talks about her body or coming out at twenty-five, she strips out the punishing tone common to the genre. Instead, she treats her younger self with total affection. The occasional weakness in her hours happens when she relies on sheer volume to push a thin premise across the finish line, a holdover from her early sketch days. But she commits to the physical act-out so entirely that the crowd usually goes along with the yell.
Turning points
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2011–2014
Breakout as Chelsea Lately Panelist
After training with The Groundlings and appearing on Last Comic Standing, Feimster spent four years writing and appearing on Chelsea Lately, launching her national comedy profile.
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Critically Acclaimed Netflix Hour Sweet & Salty
Feimster released her first hour-long Netflix stand-up special Sweet & Salty, earning a Critics Choice Award nomination and solidifying her status as a top-drawing headliner.
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Launch of Award-Winning Handsome Podcast
Joining forces with Tig Notaro and Mae Martin, Feimster co-founded Handsome, amassing tens of millions of downloads and winning GLAAD, Webby, and Signal awards.
At a glance
- Born
- , Charlotte, North Carolina
- On stage
- since 2002
- Style
- confessional, storytelling, observational
- Breakout
- Sweet & Salty
- Topics
- Elsewhere
- Website, Wikipedia
Fans also like
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Tig NotaroAs co-hosts of the Handsome podcast, both share a conversational, personal storytelling style and strong appeal among LGBTQ+ comedy fans.
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Mae MartinCo-hosts on Handsome who both utilize confessional, candid humor exploring relationships, identity, and personal vulnerability.
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Tom PapaLongtime co-hosts of SiriusXM's What a Joke who both cultivate an accessible, warm, and positive comedic tone centered on marriage and family life.
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Gabriel IglesiasBoth comedians focus on self-effacing personal anecdotes, accessible physical humor, and promoting feel-good, positive vibes for broad audiences.
Podcasts
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Handsome · co-host
A comedy podcast where the trio answers a single question submitted by a celebrity guest, accompanied by funny personal stories and friendly banter.
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What a Joke with Papa and Fortune · co-host
A daily radio show and podcast broadcast on SiriusXM's Netflix Is a Joke channel where the hosts interview comedians and celebrities.
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Sincerely Fortune · host
A podcast hosted by Feimster regularly featuring discussions with fan favorites, including her wife Jax and mother Ginger.
Also on screen
- 2015–2017
- The Mindy Project
- 2016–2019
- Life in Pieces
- Office Christmas Party
- Champions
- 2019–2020
- The L Word: Generation Q
A clip to start with
Moms Love to Tell You News About People You Grew Up With - Fortune Feimster