Jay Leno, 74, the former host of the “Tonight Show,” recently shared a moving anecdote about a humorous shopping trip that brightened the day for him and his wife Mavis, who is battling dementia.
In a forthright interview with People magazine, Leno discussed how he tries to maintain a positive outlook in their daily lives. “You try to find the humor in this situation,” he stated, referring to an uplifting shopping trip meant to cheer up his wife.
Leno, a well-known TV personality, detailed a trip to Nordstrom with wife Mavis when he noticed she was feeling low. She found two pairs of sneakers she liked during their shopping trip. The simple purchase turned into a funny incident when Leno discovered a significant price difference between the two pairs of sneakers while at the register. “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 recalled.
The second pair, apparently a bedazzled version of similar sneakers, was priced at $847. Despite the price discrepancy, Leno found humor in the situation. “It’s fine, I’m glad I can afford this and it made my wife happy. It just made me laugh,” he stated.
In April of the previous year, Leno was granted conservatorship of Mavis after court documents indicated she “sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.” Married since 1980, the couple has faced this health concern together, maintaining their strong connection.
Despite their struggles, the Lenos continue to make public appearances. At the Los Angeles premiere of “Unfrosted,” Mavis spoke positively about her condition, stating, “I feel great, yeah!”
At the 16th Annual Global Women’s Rights Awards & Gala of the Feminist Majority Foundation, Leno became emotional discussing their relationship on Fox News. During his stage appearance at the ceremony, Leno stated that marrying Mavis was “the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”
The conservatorship was established to safeguard both Leno and his wife, as they have no children. The court deemed this to be the “least restrictive alternative” to ensure Mavis’s well-being, especially concerning the administration of their shared assets and property held in trust.
While managing his wife’s health issues, Leno has also encountered his own physical challenges. In November 2024, he fell down a 60-foot hill, sustaining visible injuries including a large bruise on the left side of his face, a black eye, and a broken wrist.
In January of 2023, Leno was involved in a significant motorcycle accident, where he sustained multiple injuries, including a broken collarbone and two broken ribs.
These accidents followed another severe incident where Leno sustained serious burns. While working on a vintage car in his garage, a steam engine exploded in his face, resulting in second-degree burns on his face, chest, and hands. He spent nine days at the Grossman Burn Center in Los Angeles, California, receiving treatment for these injuries. The accident occurred while he was working underneath a 1907 White Steam Car attempting to unclog a fuel line.
Despite these physical setbacks, Leno has maintained his resilience and sense of humor. He continues to make public appearances and indulge his passion for vintage cars, while also focusing on caring for Mavis. Recently, he was seen, looking fully recovered from his fall, as he continues to balance his professional obligations with his role as Mavis’s primary caregiver.
