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Jay Leno is embracing being a caregiver for his wife: ‘When you get married, you sort of take a vow’

Apr 24, 2025

Jay Leno has opened up about how much he enjoys caring for his wife as she lives with dementia.

In a conversation with In Depth with Graham Bensinger, the former late-night host shared what life is like these days with his wife of 45 years, Mavis.

Humour can be helpful, the comedian said of being a caregiver for someone with dementia.

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MALIBU, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 08: Jay Leno and Mavis Leno attend the private unveiling of the Meyers Manx electric automobile at Little Beach House Malibu on August 08, 2022 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Meyers Manx)

“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?'” he said.

“No, I didn’t. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it’s okay.”

According to Leno, the couple does “basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things”.

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Mavis Leno and Jay Leno

“I like taking care of her,” he said.

“She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed.”

Leno applied for and was granted conservatorship over his wife’s estate last year.

He told Bensinger he uses flash cards with Mavis to try to stir her memories, which has led to some funny moments.

“I’m told people with dementia forget the people they’re with. But, you know, I do pictures of the flashcards,” he said, while pretending to place a card down.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: (L-R) Mavis Leno and Jay Leno attend 60th Anniversary at The Improv at Hollywood Improv on November 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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“‘Remember? Remember?’ It’s kind of funny. I go, ‘Honey, that’s President Obama. Remember we had dinner?'” Leno said.

His wife would look at the flash card and say, “Oh, not me,” causing him to say “‘Yeah, yeah. Honey, it was you’.”

“You have to find the humour in it,” he added.

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