Dolly Martinez, a Fort Worth woman who shared her story on TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life, has died at 30. This article covers what her family and major outlets have confirmed about her death, her life and her funeral plans, and separates her from other people who share her name.
Which Dolly Martinez? Two obituaries appear under this name. This article is about the 30-year-old reality TV participant from Fort Worth, Texas. A separate public obituary from Steed-Todd Funeral Home describes a different Dolly Martinez, aged 63, of Clovis, New Mexico, who died on June 11, 2025. They are not the same person.
Background: Who Was Dolly Martinez?
Martinez was a Fort Worth, Texas native who appeared on season 10 of My 600-Lb. Life in 2022, when she was 25. Her episode, “Dolly’s Story,” aired January 19, 2022. She weighed 593 pounds at the start and moved to Houston to be near bariatric surgeon Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, known as Dr. Now.
She lost about 40 pounds during the show but was not approved for weight-loss surgery. On camera she spoke openly about food addiction and her mental health. People are searching her name because news of her death spread widely in April 2026.
Latest Update
What has been reported about her final weeks: Martinez was admitted to a hospital in Fort Worth on March 29 with fluid around her heart and lungs. She was placed in a medically induced coma on a ventilator and did not wake up. Her family said loved ones were with her when she died.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 19, 2022 | “Dolly’s Story” airs (My 600-Lb. Life, season 10, episode 12) |
| Mar. 29, 2026 | Admitted to a Fort Worth hospital |
| Apr. 11, 2026 | Sister Lindsey Cooper announces her death on Facebook |
| Apr. 13, 2026 | Mother reveals cause of death; family meets with a funeral director |
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Martinez grew up in Fort Worth. Her mother is Staci Thurman, and her half-sister Lindsey Cooper, whom their mother described as her best friend, shared the news of her death. Her father had died earlier. On the show she described a difficult childhood and said food became a way to cope with loneliness and hurt. Cooper has asked the public to remember that she was “so much more” than what appeared on TV or social media.
Career Path
Martinez was not a career celebrity. Her public profile came from My 600-Lb. Life and her social media presence afterward. Her episode followed her attempt to qualify for surgery under Dr. Now, and she is among more than two dozen participants from the series who have since died.
Age
She was 30 when she died. She was 25 when she filmed her season 10 episode. Her exact birth date has not been published in the reports reviewed.
Religion
Her religion has not been publicly stated. Her sister said she takes comfort in believing Martinez has been reunited with their father.
Spouse/Partner
No spouse or partner has been named in the reports reviewed.
Net Worth
No verified net worth has been published, and none is estimated here.
Parents
Mother: Staci Thurman. Her father died before her, and the family scattered his ashes at a scenic hiking spot called Serenity Point, according to her sister.
Height
Her height has not been reliably documented.
Education
No school or degree has been named in the reports. On the show she spoke about being diagnosed with attention deficit, oppositional defiant and bipolar disorders as a child and about difficult experiences at school.
Hometown/State of Origin
Fort Worth, Texas, United States. She temporarily relocated to Houston during her time on the show.
Official Links
I could not verify an official social media account for Martinez, so none is linked here. News of her death was first shared on her sister’s Facebook page. Add a verified link before publishing if you can confirm one.
Quick Facts Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Dolly Martinez |
| Known for | TLC’s My 600-Lb. Life, season 10 (2022) |
| Death announced | April 11, 2026 |
| Age | 30 |
| Hometown | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Cause of death | Congestive heart failure (per her mother) |
| Family | Mother Staci Thurman; half-sister Lindsey Cooper |
| Starting weight on show | 593 lbs |
| Funeral plans | Cremation planned; ashes to be scattered at Serenity Point (per sister) |
| Net worth, height, religion, spouse | Not publicly verified |
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Did Dolly Martinez from My 600-Lb. Life die?
Yes. Her sister announced her death on Facebook on April 11, 2026, and outlets including Deadline, Forbes and TMZ reported it. She was 30.
How did Dolly Martinez die?
Her mother told TMZ that she died of congestive heart failure. She had been in a Fort Worth hospital since March 29 with fluid around her heart and lungs.
How old was Dolly Martinez?
She was 30 years old. She was 25 when her episode was filmed and aired in 2022.
What season of My 600-Lb. Life was Dolly Martinez on?
She appeared in season 10, episode 12, titled “Dolly’s Story,” which aired January 19, 2022. She started at 593 pounds and lost about 40 pounds on the show.
Did Dolly Martinez have surgery with Dr. Now?
No. She did not lose enough weight to be approved for bariatric surgery during her episode.
Who is Lindsey Cooper?
Lindsey Cooper is Dolly Martinez’s half-sister and, according to their mother, her best friend. She announced the death and has shared details about the family’s plans.
What are the funeral plans for Dolly Martinez?
Her sister told Us Weekly the family plans to cremate her and scatter her ashes at Serenity Point, a hiking spot where they did the same for their father. No public service details were found.
Is this the same Dolly Martinez who died in Clovis, New Mexico?
No. A funeral home obituary describes a 63-year-old Dolly Martinez of Clovis, New Mexico, who died June 11, 2025. She is a different person from the reality TV participant.
Wrap-Up
The verified facts about Dolly Martinez are consistent across major outlets: she died in April 2026 at 30, after weeks in a Fort Worth hospital, with congestive heart failure given as the cause by her mother. Because her name is common, it is worth checking which obituary you are reading before sharing or citing it.
Her death adds to a long list of former My 600-Lb. Life participants who have died, and it has renewed conversation about the show and the health struggles behind it. Her sister has been direct about wanting Martinez to be remembered as a person first, not only as a television subject, and has asked critics to show compassion while the family grieves.
If further details are confirmed, such as a public memorial, this article will be updated. Until then, readers should rely on statements from the family and established news outlets.
