Who is Jeff Arcuri? All about the comedian as he marries Bachelorette star Katie Thurston amid breast cancer diagnosis

Jeff Arcuri, who rose to fame with his stand-up comedy performances in the city of Chicago, has got married. The comedian, who performs in comedy clubs like Laugh Factory and Zanies, married The Bachelorette star Katie Thurston.

Jeff Arcuri gained fame on social media in 2023 when one of his videos on TikTok became viral and hit 2 million views. Originally from Michigan, where he used to work at a cell phone store, Arcuri moved to Chicago in 2012 to test his talent in the comedy scene there, according to Swift Magazine. Since then, Arcuri has immensely expanded his fan base, charming audiences with his wit.

Although he has been in the public eye for several years, Arcuri has kept his personal life extremely private. It was only last year that Arcuri had opened up about his love life. The comedian, now in his 40s, started dating television personality Katie Thurston in 2024, whom he met via Instagram.

Who is Jeff Arcuri’s new wife Katie Thurston?

Kathie Thurston starred in and as The Bachelorette in the 17th season of the show in 2021. The Bachelorette is a reality TV dating show focused on a single bachelorette who interacts with a select number of romantic interests to choose the right match. Eventually, the show winds up with a marriage proposal. The Bachelorette was conceived after the immense popularity of The Bachelor, which was first broadcast in 2002.

Before starring in The Bachelorette, Thurston first appeared as a contestant in the 25th season of The Bachelor, where she was one among the many romantic interests of Matt James, the bachelor of the season. Thurston was eliminated in the 6th week.

Although Thurston placed at the 11th position in the show, she attained immense popularity among the audiences, prompting the makers of The Bachelorette to select her as the 17th season lead.

Jeff Arcuri and Katie Thurston’s relationship explored

Initially connecting through Instagram in early 2024, Jeff Arcuri and Katie Thurston first met in person in May last year.

The couple hit it off and got engaged by August 2024, as per US Weekly. Speaking to US Weekly in an exclusive interview a few days before their wedding, Arcuri spoke about his future wife, sharing,

“I’ll dance and sing … and she’s the only person that’s ever been cheering me on for it and then videotaping me and joking with me about it as opposed to being like, ‘Oh my God, what are you doing right now?’ I just love that too. You make me feel not stupid.”

Similarly, Thurston has, in the past, shared her admiration for Arcuri. In an Instagram post shared in July last year, Thurston said,

“Here is a glimpse of this extraordinary human who is the kindest man I have ever met. He’s my love, my protector, my peace, my healer, and of course, my laughter. I never knew two souls could collide the way ours have. You were worth the wait.”

Just a month after this post, on August 26, Arcuri proposed to Thurston, according to US Weekly. The couple shared the news a few weeks later, on their social media accounts.

Cancer diagnosis and marriage

On February 15, Katie Thurston shared that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Taking to Instagram, she wrote,

“Yesterday I saw all the couples post their Valentine’s Day celebrations. I felt envious if I’m being honest. Jeff took me to Hawaii and after, we were going to travel the world before planting roots together in NYC finally. But instead, my Vday was spent coordinating a place to live as I have to go back to LA for more testing and treatment.”

In the wake of Thurston's diagnosis, Jeff Arcuri announced on Instagram that he had decided to reschedule his New Zealand, Australia, and Japan tours.

The couple had not yet decided a date for their wedding, and Thurston’s cancer diagnosis prompted them to shift their attention towards her treatment.

During the interview with US Weekly, Thurston revealed Arcuri’s emotional declaration of love and commitment towards her. Thurston said,

“‘I want to show you that I still love you and that I’m here to stay. I’ll get married to you tomorrow.’ We flew our parents in from Michigan and Washington State. We got our marriage license and a friend is just gonna marry us.”

Jeff Arcuri and Katie Thurston got married on March 22 in a private ceremony at their residence. The ceremony was attended by their parents, who flew in promptly. According to US Weekly, the couple plans to have a more elaborate wedding ceremony after Thurston’s cancer treatment is over.