Emily Fortune Feimster (/ˈfiːmstər/; born July 1, 1980) is an American writer, comedian, and actress. Having made her television debut on NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2010, Feimster starred as Colette on The Mindy Project (2015–2017). In July 2019, she began hosting What a Joke with Papa and Fortune with Tom Papa, interviewing comedians and celebrities, the first live programming on the Sirius XM’s channel Netflix is a Joke. In 2019, reports confirmed Feimster would participate in The L Word: Generation Q, a reboot of The L Word.
Background
Feimster was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Mike and Ginger Feimster; the youngest of three, with two older brothers, Price and Jay. Fortune is her mother’s grandmother’s maiden name. Growing up in Belmont, North Carolina, she attended Belmont Central Elementary School and Belmont Junior High, subsequently graduating from South Point High School (North Carolina) in 1998. That same year, she was presented to society at the Gastonia Debutante Ball. At South Point, she played basketball, softball and tennis.
She attended Peace College, then a women-only university, and was elected student body president, majored in communications and played soccer and tennis. She graduated summa cum laude and was the student speaker at commencement in 2002. The graduation speaker was Raleigh native actress Emily Procter, with whom Feimster became acquainted after the graduation.
After living in Spain for a year, she moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to become a personal assistant to Procter and pursue comedy. After connecting with Procter’s neighbor, a journalist for the Los Angeles Daily News, Feimster began a seven year career in entertainment journalism. In 2005, she joined The Groundlings Theatre, studying improv and sketch comedy. After four years, she was selected to join the Groundlings’ Sunday Company.
Feimster came out as lesbian in 2005 at age 25. In 2016, she began dating kindergarten teacher Jacquelyn Smith, becoming engaged in early 2018. She and Smith own homes in Los Angeles and Belmont, North Carolina. They married in a small ceremony on Friday October 23, 2020.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Secret Lives of Dorks | Janitor | |
| 2015 | Life in Color | Zoe | |
| 2016 | Office Christmas Party | Lonny | |
| 2018 | Social Animals | Sarah-Beth | |
| 2018 | Father of the Year | Teacher | |
| 2018 | The Happytime Murders | Robin | |
| 2020 | Friendsgiving | Fairy Gay Mother | |
| 2020 | Chick Fight | Bear | |
| 2020 | Soul | Counselor Jerry D | Voice role |
| 2021 | Deported | Tammy | |
| 2021 | Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar | Pinky | |
| 2021 | Yes Day | Jean the Paramedic |
Television
- Last Comic Standing in 2010 – as herself
- After Lately between 2011 and 2013 – as herself
- Chelsea Lately between 2013 and 2014 – as Round Table Co-host
- 2 Broke Girls in 2014 – as Sherlock Mary
- Workaholics in 2014 – as Jo
- Mulaney in 2014 – as Mary Jo
- Glee in 2015 – as Butch Melman
- Hot Girls Walk By in 2015 – as Ruth
- Married in 2015 – as Woman on Rascal
- The Mindy Project in 2015–2017 – as Collette Kimball-Kinney
- Drunk History in 2015 – as herself
- Life in Pieces, from 2016–2019 – as Dougie
- Go-Go Boy Interrupted (web series) in 2016 – as Fortune
- Chelsea in 2016 – as Ann Coulter
- RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2017 – as herself (S9 E8)
- The Standups in 2017– as herself (S1 E2)
- Chelsea in 2017 – as Sarah Huckabee Sanders
- Craig of the Creek in 2018 – Laura (first voice acting role)
- Summer Camp Island in 2018 – Ava (voice acting role)
- Champions in 2018 – Ruby
- Claws in 2018 – Lauren Zorloni
- The Fix – as herself
- RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2019 – as herself (S11 E9)
- Bless the Harts in 2019-present – as Brenda (voice acting role; series regular)
- The Simpsons in 2019 – as Evelyn (voice acting role)
- Sunnyside in 2019 – as Michelle Pinholster
- The L Word: Generation Q in 2019 – as Heather
- Tales of The City 2019 – as Carlin
- Sweet and Salty in 2020 – as herself, Netflix Stand Up Special
- Nailed It! in 2020 – as herself
- Kenan (TV series) in 2021 – as Pam Fox
Podcasts
In addition to hosting her own podcast, Sincerely Fortune, Feimster has appeared on the following:
| Date | Show | Episode |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 10, 2019 | Queery | Episode 112 |
| Aug. 12, 2019 | The Margaret Cho | Season 1, Episode 5 |
| Jan. 9, 2020 | This Past Weekend | Episode 254 |
| Jan. 20, 2020 | Anna Faris is Unqualified | Fortune Feimster |
| Feb. 29, 2020 | Lovett or Leave It | ”Oh, great. Mike Pence.” |
| Mar. 2, 2020 | The Sporkful | “You Can’t Hate Yourself Constantly” Says Comic Fortune Feimster |
| Mar. 11, 2020 | The Joe Rogan Experience | Episode #1440 |
| Sep. 2, 2020 | Your Mom’s House Podcast | Your Mom’s House Podcast – Ep. 567 w/ Fortune Feimster |
| Nov. 30, 2020 | Do You Need A Ride? | Fortune Feimster |
| Mar. 15, 2021 | Comedy Bang Bang | 697. Fortune Feimster, Dan Lippert, Jacquis Neal |