For most, marriage vows about loving 'in sickness and in health' are just words. But for Jay Leno, they’ve become a lived reality. The former Tonight Show host, now 74, is navigating a different chapter with his wife of 44 years, Mavis Leno, following her diagnosis with advanced dementia—something that many UK stars also suffer from.
Discover our latest podcast
Jay has stepped into the role of caregiver with the same steady presence he once brought to late-night TV.
Understanding Mavis Leno's diagnosis and conservatorship
In early 2024, Jay Leno made a heartbreaking announcement. His wife of almost 45 years, Mavis Leno, was diagnosed with advanced dementia. Following the diagnosis, Jay filed for conservatorship in January 2024, aiming to establish a living trust to secure her care if anything were to happen to him.
According to People, her court-appointed counsel, Ronald Ostrin, stated in a filing that Mavis 'sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth.' She reportedly experiences significant disorientation and often reflects on her deceased parents.
Despite these cognitive challenges, Ostrin described Mavis as 'a delightful person' with a 'charming personality.' She did not oppose the conservatorship and, in fact, 'consents to it,' trusting Jay as her protector. Her neurologist, Dr. Hart Cohen, supported the decision, calling Jay 'such a nice man' who 'treats [Mavis] like gold.'
The conservatorship allows Jay to make crucial financial and healthcare decisions on Mavis’ behalf. As David DuFault, a principal attorney at Sodoma Law, told People, such orders tend to be broad when cognitive impairment is involved, enabling decisions about assets, property, and future care.
Jay Leno speaks about his new role as caregiver
In a revealing interview in April 2025 with In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Jay Leno talked candidly about what it means to care for Mavis. He shared:
At some point in my life, I'm going to 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.
He explained:
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. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV, and it's OK.
Leno added that while he now helps Mavis with daily tasks, their routine remains largely unchanged. He said:
She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed.
He even acknowledged the difficult aspects:
It’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.
His commitment to Mavis is clear. He told Bensinger:
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 would rather be with her than doing something else.
Mavis and Jay — A unique, longstanding love story
Jay and Mavis Leno’s relationship began in the 1970s when she spotted him performing at the Comedy Store in L.A. Mavis once recalled:
At the time I thought, 'Holy s—! That comedian is gorgeous!
The pair met post-show when Mavis was exiting the bathroom and Jay approached her with a cheeky line:
Are you that girl in front?
Despite being a self-declared feminist who 'never thought she would get married,' Mavis changed her stance with Jay. She told People:
It was a big thing with me, part of my vehement feminism. But with Jay, I began to realize that this was the first time I was ever with someone where I had a perfect, calm sense of having arrived at my destination.
Their engagement story is as unconventional as their romance. Jay proposed not with a ring, but an insurance policy:
I had this insurance policy, and I thought if something happened to me, my girlfriend wouldn't be covered, but if we're married, we're covered, so … we might as well get married. Not the most romantic. Mavis didn't even get an engagement ring until..
Mavis didn’t get an engagement ring until much later, joking they had just bought a house instead. She quipped in:
He was going to get me one, but we had just bought a house, so why would I do that? I'm not that kind of person.
Jay later bought a diamond ring for her.
The couple married on November 3, 1980—the same date as Jay’s parents’ wedding anniversary.
The couple chose not to have children, a decision Mavis takes 'full credit for.' She explained to The Washington Post that growing up watching The Honeymooners shaped her views on marriage and gender roles.
Their decades-long relationship has withstood personal and public challenges, including Jay’s severe garage fire accident in 2022. Mavis, described by doctors as 'very concerned' and ever-present, stayed by his side through it all. Jay later shared he went home first before going to the burn centre, saying:
My wife doesn’t drive anymore and I didn’t want her stuck and not knowing what was going on.
In 2024, the couple presented the inaugural Mavis Leno Award for Global Women's Rights, where Jay called marrying Mavis the 'smartest thing I’ve ever done.'
Read more:
Donald Trump’s medical exam: What the tests involved and what they revealed
Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane reveals ALS diagnosis weeks after wife calls off divorce
Sources used:
Business Insider: Jay Leno on becoming his wife's caretaker after her dementia diagnosis: 'I mean, that's really what love is'
People: Who Is Jay Leno's Wife? All About Mavis Leno
People: Jay Leno's Wife Mavis 'Sometimes Does Not' Recognize Him amid Dementia Diagnosis as Lawyer Recommends Conservatorship
Us Weekly: Jay Leno’s Wife Mavis Doesn’t Always Recognize Him After Dementia Diagnosis
