Jay Leno says people were ‘shocked’ he stayed with wife amid her dementia diagnosis

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Jay Leno shared that many are surprised he remained with his wife, Mavis, after she received a diagnosis of dementia.

Jay Leno, 75, recently talked about how meaningful his wedding vows are during an interview on the Life Above the Noise With Maria Shriver podcast.

The comedian, married for 45 years, recently revealed that someone insensitively asked if he planned to find a new girlfriend after his wife, Mavis, 79, received a diagnosis of advanced dementia earlier this year.

He explained to Shriver on Sunday that people are often surprised when someone actually keeps the promises they make when they get married. He said he’s mentioned this before, noting the shock when vows are truly upheld.

Leno, who appeared with a swollen cheek on Tuesday, said he didn’t understand why people were so surprised by his actions, explaining that he was simply doing what he felt was right.

Ugh, it used to make total sense, you know? Everything just fit. But then when things started going off-script, that’s when it all felt…wrong. Seriously, it just wasn’t how it was supposed to be, and it drove me crazy! It’s like, the natural order was disrupted, and I just couldn’t look away from the chaos.

It’s pretty common for things to go wrong, but people are often surprised when someone simply does their job and sticks with it.

He then recalled how someone asked him if he planned to get a ‘girlfriend’ now.

He remembered something particularly amusing someone asked him – a very stereotypical Hollywood question. They’d asked, ‘Now that you’re successful, are you going to get a girlfriend?’

Leno replied, ‘Well no, I have a girlfriend. I’m married. Married 45 years.’

The person went on, saying, ‘Yeah, but you know what I mean.’

However, Leno stood by his beliefs.

‘No, we’re kinda in this together here,’ he said.

He went on to share that making his wife laugh is ‘still one of my primary things.’

Leno remembered a time when Mavis confessed her love for him while they were in bed around 2 a.m.

“I told her she was dreaming and to go back to sleep,” Leno explained. “She thought it was hilarious and couldn’t stop laughing.”

‘And to me, that’s what’s fun. “Oh, I got a laugh out of her.”‘

The comedian said he feels fortunate that, all things considered, his wife’s dementia diagnosis has been the biggest difficulty he’s had to deal with.

He explained that things were about to become more challenging, adding, “You’ve had it easy up until now, but things are about to get tricky.”

Leno — who wed Mavis in 1980 — added that he’s been ‘very fortunate’ and ‘very lucky.’

I really feel for people like nurses, police officers, and teachers – those with demanding jobs who also have to care for aging parents or a partner. I’m fortunate enough to be able to hire someone to look after my dog, Mavis, when I can’t be there.

In January 2024, Leno’s wife received a dementia diagnosis, which led him to seek legal conservatorship over her affairs.

In April, he legally became responsible for managing his wife’s affairs, and her attorney stated she approved of the arrangement.

According to court documents, she occasionally doesn’t recognize him and has trouble remembering her birthday.

His wife’s lawyer also said she is ‘receiving excellent care with her husband, Mr. Leno.’

Last November, Jay Leno shared with People that caring for his wife isn’t a chore, but something he genuinely enjoys and feels fortunate to do. He said he’s ‘lucky’ to be able to provide care for her.

He’s also mentioned that he makes sure to come home to his wife every night, even when he’s traveling for work.

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2026-01-15 07:04