Jay Leno gives rare update on becoming wife Mavis's caretaker after devastating 'advanced' dementia diagnosis
Jay Leno gave a rare update on being his wife's caretaker after it was revealed that she had been diagnosed with 'advanced' dementia.
The 74-year-old former Tonight Show host — who was recently seen driving a tank on the streets of Los Angeles — got candid about the topic during an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, which was released on Wednesday.
In April of last year, the star was granted conservatorship of Mavis, 78, after a court filing revealed that she 'sometimes does not' recognize him and does not remember her own birth date.
At one point, Leno was asked what he has learned most about himself while being by his wife's side amid her heartbreaking health battle.
'Well, I have never been particularly challenged. I was not in the army, I didn't have to shoot anybody. I didn't have to risk my life,' he admitted.
'When I got 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?" No, I didn't,' Leno said.
The TV personality added, 'I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it's OK. It's OK.
'It's basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things.'
Jay explained to the host, 'But I like it. I like taking care of her. I think, you know, somewhere in my life — she's a very independent woman, so I like that I'm needed. You know, and I need to be there. And it's good.'
Leno said that he will show his wife — whom he married in 1980 — pictures from their past.
'It's kind of fun. I go, "Honey, that's President Obama. Remember we had dinner?"' he recalled, before sharing that Mavis will respond with, '"Oh, not me." [And I'll say], "Yeah, honey, that was you!"'
When later asked what the most 'challenging' part of being his wife's caretaker has been, the comedian replied, '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. It's a challenge. And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.'
He said, 'It's OK, because I feel like I'm not taking advantage — I'm not just, "This person is attractive and sexy," and having sex with them and everything.'
The TV personality added, 'I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it's OK. It's OK'
'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 said
Jay went on, 'At some point in my life, I'm gonna be called upon to defend myself. I think that's really what defines a marriage. I mean, that's really what love is. That's what you do.
'I mean, I'm glad I didn't cut and run. I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I mean, I would rather be with her than doing something else.'
Earlier this year in January, Leno gave an emotional update while talking to People.
He revealed that he still aims to find 'your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun. You try to find the humor in this situation.'
'I took my wife shopping, I can see she's a little down, [so I said], "Come on, we'll go to the mall."
'So we go to Nordstrom's and I said, "You see anything you like?" "No, no." So we look at the shoes, and [she says], "Oh, I like these sneakers."'
The star explained that Mavis spotted a pair of 'bright-blue sneakers' and he told her to find a second pair of shoes that she also liked.
She soon came across red-and-white trainers. 'So I see she's happy, and I said "This is great." So I got two pairs of sneakers, and [the cashier says] "That's $24. And the other pair, that's $847."'
'I go, "No, I only had two pairs of sneakers. I thought these were $24." [The cashier] goes, "Yeah, these are $24. But the other ones were [designer sneakers]."'
Leno added, 'It looked like the guy took a pair of the same sneakers and used a bedazzler on them, and they were $800. I look at my wife and said, "You like these?" I go, "Honey, you look great."'
Jay then told People, 'It's fine, I'm glad I can afford this and it made my wife happy. It just made me laugh. Just typical. I thought the $24 pair looked better than those, but that's OK.
'It just made me laugh, and I think when you're dealing with this kind of thing, you find your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun, and my wife really likes them and felt good about it.'
Leno jokingly expressed, 'So the fact that it was the same pair of sneakers that got hit with a bedazzler, I guess that's fine. But it just made me laugh, and that's pretty much what it is.'
Back in January of last year, it was revealed that Mavis had been diagnosed with 'advanced dementia,' although it is not known when she was diagnosed.
And in April 2024, Leno was granted conservatorship of his wife.
Later that month, Mavis herself gave an update on her condition as she accompanied her husband to the premiere of Unfrosted in Los Angeles.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she positively stated, 'I feel great, yeah!'
Jay then added, 'Thought I'd come to something fun for a change. Everything is so controversial. Just to come to a funny, silly movie — it's great. I think people will have a great time.
He also shared that he and his wife 'hang out every day.'
'We have a great time. 44 years! So we're doing good,' the late-night host gushed.
The following month, Leno became emotional as he got candid about caring for his wife while the pair attended the Feminist Majority Foundation's 16th Annual Global Women's Rights Awards & Gala.
He told Fox News, 'We've been married 44 years. It gets easier. It doesn't get harder. We do everything together. I go home every night, make dinner and sit around. We enjoy each other's company.'
The couple appeared on stage during the ceremony, and Jay sweetly gushed that marrying Mavis was 'the smartest thing I've ever done.
'We have a lot of fun. People say marriage is difficult. I don't get it. 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,' Leno added of the philanthropist. 'I am part of her legacy and that's what I'm proudest of.'
The former talk show host is also preparing to celebrate his 75th birthday later this month on April 28.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Major Hollywood star looks unrecognisable with her new look mystifying fans: can YOU guess who it is?
Hollywood superstar Dakota Johnson is undoubtedly one of the world's best-known faces. But fans reacted in shock this week when a clip of the actress behind the scenes on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon went viral — claiming she was almost unrecognisable. In the video, watched more than 2.7million times on TikTok, Dakota, 35, is seen with refreshed under eyes and glowing skin. On social media, some quipped she must have had a blepharoplasty—eyelid surgery that gently lifts and refreshes the eye area. Others even claimed it wasn't even her, suggesting 'she doesn't look like Dakota', 'nope, that's not Dakota' and 'she looks different, everyone in Hollywood is looking different'. The clip also sparked fresh speculation the How To Be Single actress may have had other cosmetic tweakments to enhance her appearance. The actress who recently split with Coldplay rocker Chris Martin, 48, has never admitted to going under the knife. But doctors have weighed in, suggesting her transformation is likely a result of a handful of subtle facial procedures. Dr Paul Banwell, a Sussex-based award-winning consultant plastic and cosmetic surgeon, told MailOnline: 'She may have had a conservative upper blepharoplasty procedure. 'Her eyes look bright and youthful, but we have to take other variables into account such as ageing, makeup, and other procedures. I think she looks awesome. An upper blepharoplasty involves removing excess skin or fat from the upper eyelid area to tighten the skin and change the look or hooded or droopy eyelids. Typically a 45 minute to hour long procedure, it is performed under anesthesia. 'As you age, your eyelids' skin stretches, and the muscles supporting them weaken,' Dr Banwell said. 'As a result, excess fat present around the eye may push forward causing droopy upper lids and bulging. 'Besides the ageing effect, the sagging or drooping skin can actually reduce your vision and cause problems with your visual fields.' But Mr Kshem Yapa, a London-based consultant plastic surgeon specialising in facial surgery and rhinoplasty, told MailOnline that while Dakota's eyes 'look rejuvenated', it is 'not obvious that she's had an upper blepharoplasty'. Instead, she may have had 'volume replacement in her lower eyelids, such as filler but more likely modest facial fat grafting', he added. He added: 'There seems to be a little bit of improvement in skin quality in the lower eyelid and this is unlikely to be just from a blepharoplasty.' Facial fat grafting, also known as facial fat transfer or lipofilling, involves fat being harvested from one area of the body and injected into the face to restore volume, reduce wrinkles, and improve contours. Earlier this year, in its annual trends report, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that facial plastic surgeons reported a 50 percent rise in the average number of fat grafting procedures performed in 2024. This trend, the Academy noted, was 'likely fuelled' by patients who wanted to restore lost volume and sculpt or tighten different areas of the face. Mr Yapa added: 'I don't think she's had any major surgery, it's really good subtle work, likely non-surgical. 'She seems to be a little bit slimmer in the cheeks specifically and this could be just from weight loss. 'Of course, buccal fat reduction can be done modestly to give some slimming to the face and this is possible.' Vienna-based dermatologist and aesthetic doctor Dr Alma Kamenica, also said she could not be certain Fifty Shades Darker star Dakota had definitely undergone an upper blepharoplasty. But she added: 'Her lips also appear fuller compared to earlier years, which could point to the use of lip filler to gently enhance volume while maintaining her natural look. 'Her nose might have undergone a slight refinement early in her career, perhaps a soft adjustment to the tip or bridge that complements her delicate features. 'Her skin now looks incredibly smooth and radiant, with a more even tone and texture, something that suggests she may have benefited from advanced treatments like skin tightening devices such as Morpheus8 Burst. 'These treatments can dramatically enhance the skin's overall glow and firmness.' Online, other medical professionals also speculated Dakota could have undergone dental work in recent years. Sharing photos of the star prior to 2019, US-based prosthodontist Dr Sara Hahn, told her 156,000 TikTok followers she clearly had a space in between her teeth, known as a diastema. 'It doesn't look like veneers but I do think composite bonding has been done or reshaping of the front teeth because we went from a very flat to a very curved appearance,' she added. Dakota has never confirmed if she has undergone any procedures. But in a revealing conversation with Glamour magazine in 2017 about her skincare regime, she said: 'I buy a bunch of products but end up not using any of them. I just like the way they look. 'I truly have the simplest routine: I wash my face in the morning and at night, then moisturise, during the day I add sunscreen.'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Inbetweeners fans given chance to relive classic episode in replica yellow Fiat – complete with iconic red door
As an added bonus, drivers who are fastest to the buzzer in each location will be given free tickets to Thorpe Park CAR FRIEND Inbetweeners fans given chance to relive classic episode in replica yellow Fiat – complete with iconic red door Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A REPLICA yellow Fiat, similar to the one seen in The Inbetweeners and complete with a ridiculous single red door, is now available to rent in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Car-sharing marketplace Turo is offering fans the chance to take on their very own comedy road trip in a fantastic copy of Simon Cooper's first car, available for £55 per day. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The little motor was a big hit with fans of the show, which ran for three seasons from 2008 to 2010 Credit: Handout 4 A replica of Simon's unforgettable car from The Inbetweeners is available to rent Available for one month only, as an added bonus, Turo is offering drivers who are fastest to the buzzer in each location free tickets to Thorpe Park - giving them the chance to relive one of the show's most iconic episodes from the first series. The distinctive yellow supermini, which is a Fiat Seicento - rather than the show's Fiat Cinquecento - features the red replacement door made famous by the series. Available on Turo from June 2, the only stipulation is that drivers must be aged 25 or over to book the vehicle. Rory Brimmer, Managing Director at Turo UK, said: 'From its comparison to urine to its eventual watery grave, Simon's car became as much a character in The Inbetweeners as the four lads themselves. 'Now, we're giving fans the chance to get behind the wheel of this piece of British comedy history - and avoid long waits at the bus stop.' The added theme park perk is handed to fans in the form of a voucher for Thorpe Park tickets alongside their booking, or Alton Towers for those based near Manchester. Turo insists that, unlike in the show - where Simon's car faced numerous issues, including having its door ripped off, being vandalised and ultimately rolling into a lake at the end of the show's run - this replica is in great condition and fully functional. The Fiat is a mainstay on the show, which ran from 2008 to 2010 across three seasons of just 18 episodes. Given to the character Simon (played by Joe Thomas) by his parents after passing his driving test, he takes an instant dislike to the car, particularly because of its colour and the fact that it has a tape deck. On the same day he gets the car, Simon takes his friends Jay and Will on a road trip to Thorpe Park, but upon arrival, Jay becomes impatient when Simon is reverse parking and opens the door too quickly, breaking it off against a lamppost. The Inbetweeners - Simon's Car - The Fiat 500 Hawaii It later gets a mismatched red replacement door. Turo allows drivers to rent just about any car, just about anywhere - from tech-savvy EVs to rugged 4x4s and reliable city runarounds. Options also include picking up the motor or having it delivered to your preferred location, with third-party liability insurance thrown in as standard as well as a range of vehicle protection plans. 4 Unlike Simon's car in the show, which faced constant mishaps, this replica is in pristine condition and ready for an adventure Credit: Channel 4
Metro
3 days ago
- Metro
My date was a terrible kisser - but that wasn't the worst part
Jay* held my hand as he walked me back to my car, telling me he didn't want the night to end. We had talked and laughed throughout dinner before going to a show. We spoke about everything, from my disability – I am an ambulatory wheelchair user with chronic pain, as well as autistic and have ADHD – my job, love of musical theatre, and his passion for travel. He even told me more about his family and how he had recently been to visit them for a holiday. When we got back into my car after my dream date, we continued talking, while listening to music. Eventually he leaned over and kissed me. I'd been waiting for this all night. And that's where things started to go wrong. The kiss was bad. Oh god, it was terrible. It was sloppy, all teeth, as if he'd never kissed anyone before and had no idea what he was doing. He'd clearly never even practiced on the back of his hand. He kissed me a few more times and I found myself pulling away because it was so unappealing. I was shocked and extremely disappointed; kissing is important to me – I love a snogging session. Love reading juicy stories like this? Need some tips for how to spice things up in the bedroom? Sign up to The Hook-Up and we'll slide into your inbox every week with all the latest sex and dating stories from Metro. We can't wait for you to join us! So, How Did It Go? is a weekly series that will make you cringe with second-hand embarrassment or ooze with jealousy as people share their worst and best date stories. Want to spill the beans about your own awkward encounter or love story? Contact I went home feeling unsure. Jay was the best date I'd had in a long time but if he couldn't deliver on the kissing front, I wasn't sure I was willing to compromise. This uncertainty prompted me to try to find out more about him. Jay had sent me a screenshot of our dinner table reservation, which had given me his full name, so I typed it into the search engine. His Facebook account popped straight up. And right there, at the top of his feed, was a wedding picture of him and his new bride – from three weeks earlier. I felt a punch in my stomach, and then I started to laugh. I had been lied to and didn't even consider there to be another explanation. He was married. And I instantly decided that I was never seeing him again. I clicked on the picture. There were over 30 comments congratulating Jay and his wife, as well as his replies, thanking them. The most galling part is that the pictures were taken in the same location he had told me he had been to visit his family on 'holiday'. But that was clearly where he had done his wedding ceremony. By this time, it was after midnight and I knew Jay would be asleep. So I decided to take a screenshot of the wedding photo with the comments and send it to him on WhatsApp. 'Would you like to explain this?' I wrote. No immediate response. Lying in bed that night, I couldn't help but look back on the date. There wasn't actually anything he said or did to raise any red flags that he could be married, so I'm glad I was proactive and looked him up. A part of me was relieved because this meant that I didn't have to kiss him again. In fact, I even felt sorry for his wife. The next morning, I still didn't have a reply from Jay so I checked his profile and discovered that he had blocked me on everything. To this day, I have never seen or heard from him. H The whole experience made me even more cautious about dating than I already was; it made me question others' intentions, whether they are already in a relationship, who to trust, and so much more. More Trending Yet I knew I couldn't judge all men by that one guy. That hasn't stopped me from asking dates I've been on if they're married. I try to laugh it off, but it is always in the back of my head that I am being lied to. I am extremely paranoid. I now know to trust my gut when it comes to bad kissing – and definitely not settle for it. *Name has been changed Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I discovered my parents' secret aged 8 – I kept it until 16 MORE: 'Taking my rapist to court was worse than what he did to me' MORE: I asked my partner to choose the porn I watched for a week Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
