Jay Leno says becoming wife Mavis' caregiver is 'what love is'
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Jay Leno is opening up about how the past year has changed since he was granted conservatorship of wife Mavis Leno following her dementia diagnosis.
In April 2024, the former Tonight Show host was granted control of their joint estate after a court filing revealed that she “sometimes does not” recognize him and does not remember her own birth date.
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Jay Leno says becoming wife Mavis' caregiver is 'what love is' Back to video
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In a new interview, Leno revealed how he is caring for his wife of 45 years and embracing his new responsibilities.
“When you get married, you sort of take a vow: ‘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?’” Leno said on In Depth With Graham Bensinger.
“No, I didn’t,” he said. “I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it’s OK.”
Leno continued: “It’s basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things. But, I like it. I like taking care of her. She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed.”
The 74-year-old first filed for conservatorship in January 2024 as he revealed that she had been diagnosed with “advanced dementia,” according to court documents, where he was seeking to set up a living trust for his wife to ensure that she has “managed assets” to provide her with future care if he died.
The car enthusiast said that he still tries to find the “moments where you can have a laugh and have fun” and tries to “find the humour” in tough situations.
“Well, that’s the challenge, isn’t it? When you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day,” he said.
“It’s a challenge,” Leno admitted. “And it’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.”
He added: “I’m not just, ‘This person is attractive and sexy,’ and having sex with them and everything,” he noted of his longtime partner.
Aside from Mavis’ health, Jay has also struggled in recent years.
In 2022, he sustained second- and third-degree burns after a gasoline fire in his garage, where he had been working on a steam engine.
Two months after undergoing surgery for the burns, Leno was knocked off a motorcycle, resulting in a number of broken bones.
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He also broke his wrist and suffered bruising to his entire left side after falling down a steep hill last November.
“At some point in my life, I’m gonna be called upon to defend myself. I think that’s really what defines a marriage,” he explained to Bensinger.
“I mean, that’s really what love is,” Leno continued.
“That’s what you do.”
He noted that he’s glad he “didn’t cut and run” or “run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense.”
Leno added sweetly: “I would rather be with her than doing something else.”
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