Jay Leno Reflects on Caring for Mavis Leno Through Dementia

Jay Leno opens up about caring for Mavis Leno amid her dementia diagnosis, sharing how their bond has grown through the challenges

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For Jay Leno, caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, amid her dementia battle is a happy challenge.

“When I got married, you sort of take a vow [like,] ‘Will I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy, if something happens to my wife, I’m out banging the cashier at the mini-mart?’ No, I didn’t,” Jay, 74, shared on the Wednesday, April 23, episode of In Depth With Graham Bensinger. “I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it’s OK. It’s basically what we did before, except now, I have to feed her and do all those things.”

Acting as his wife’s caregiver is something Jay said he likes to do, adding, “She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed. And I need to be there, and it’s good.”

As one of Hollywood’s biggest comedians, Jay said it’s important for him to “find the humor” in his wife’s health challenges. During the interview, the former late night host recalled spending over $800 on two pairs of sneakers Mavis, 78, liked, not realizing one of the pairs was around $700 more expensive than the other.

Noticing Mavis had a “big smile” on her face, Jay decided to still purchase both pairs of shoes. “It just made me laugh,” he said of the shopping trip.

When asked what the most challenging part of taking care of his wife is, Jay said it is all a “challenge.” He explained, “When you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day. It’s a challenge. And it’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.”

Jay Leno and Mavis Leno at Little Beach House Malibu on August 08, 2022 in Malibu, California. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

He continued, “It’s OK, ‘cause I feel like I’m not just [like], ‘This person is attractive and sexy,’ and having sex with them and everything. At some point in my life, I’m gonna be called upon to defend myself.’ And that’s what it is. I think that’s really what defines a marriage. I mean, that’s really what love is. That’s what you do.”

At the end of the day, Jay is glad he “didn’t cut and run” after his marriage was affected by Mavis’ dementia diagnosis. “I’m glad I didn’t run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I would rather be with her than doing something else,” he gushed.

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Jay and Mavis have been married for nearly 45 years, tying the knot back in 1980. Last year, Jay filed for conservatorship of his wife, citing her dementia as the foundation of his legal motion. In court documents obtained by Us Weekly in January 2024, Jay asked to create a trust to hold “each of his and Mavis’s one-half interest in their community property” to make sure there were sufficient funds for Mavis’ future care and family members. The docs also stated that Mavis did not object to her husband being appointed the conservator of her estate.

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In more legal docs obtained by Us that April, Mavis’ court-appointed counsel, Ronald Ostrin, revealed that she “sometimes does not knot her husband, Jay, not her date of birth.” A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge granted Jay conservatorship later that month.

Jay shared more insight into his and Mavis’ relationship in a May 2024 interview with Fox News. “We have a lot of fun. People say marriage is difficult. I don’t get it,” he shared. “I enjoy her company. I enjoy taking care of her. We have fun. She’s the most independent woman I ever knew. Again, I just couldn’t be prouder of her. I am part of her legacy and that’s what I’m proudest of.”

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