How long have Jay Leno and his wife Mavis been married? Inside their bond as he calls caregiving after her dementia diagnosis ‘what love is all about’

Jay Leno is giving fans an update about his caregiving role for his wife, Mavis.

The comedian, who has been tackling health issues of his own, opened up about the ways he's stepped up for Mavis after she was diagnosed with dementia. The former late-night host was granted conservatorship of her in April 2024.

During a guest appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, which aired on April 23, Jay Leno, 74, shared that this is the first real challenge he's had to deal with in his life. He also shared that he feels good to be needed as his wife is very independent, as he said of what it is to be a partner:

"I'm not just, ‘This person is attractive and sexy,' and having sex with them and everything. 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 would rather be with her than doing something else."

Mavis and Jay Leno tied the knot in 1980, and the pair has been married for over 45 years.

Mavis and Jay Leno's marriage of 45 years explored as comedian says he's all for sticking to his vows:

Reflecting on what marriage is like for him, Jay Leno said:

"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."

He went on:

"It's basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things," he continued. "But, I like it. I like taking care of her. She's a very independent woman, so I like that I'm needed."

He also noted that "you have to find the humor" in your predicaments to get through it, recalling an instance when Mavis, now 78, went shopping at Nordstrom and wouldn't budge on buying designer shoes. He also shared how he reminds his wife of who and where she is, noting:

“I’m told people with dementia forget the people they’re with. But, you know, I do pictures of the flashcards,” he said, pretending to place a card down and saying, 'Remember? Remember?’ It’s kind of funny. I go, ‘Honey, that’s President Obama. Remember we had dinner?’ ‘Oh, not me,’ he said that's how his wife would reply. 'Yeah, yeah. Honey, it was you’ … You have to find the humor in it.”

Reflecting on the daily responsibility of getting his wife to have her food and physically get around, referring to it as something he loves doing as opposed to a job, Jay Leno said:

“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,” he added. “It’s a challenge. And it’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.”

He did acknowledge the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that come with being a caretaker, but asserted that it's what brings clarity when it comes to caring for a spouse:

“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 would rather be with her than doing something else.”

Back in April 2024, Mavis’ court-appointed counsel, Ronald Ostrin, formally approved of Jay Leno's motion for conservatorship over his wife, noting that she “consents” to the idea.

As reported by People Magazine at the time, Mavis’ neurologist, Dr. Hart Cohen, said Jay is

“such a nice man and treats [Mavis] like gold.”

Ostrin referred to the comedian as a “a standup guy” whose

“private persona matches the public persona he projects.”

Ostrin also reflected on Mavis' health, noting that she

“sometimes does not know her husband, Jay, nor her date of birth."

The neurologist continued by saying Mavis also

“has a lot of disorientation, will ruminate about her parents who have both passed and her mother who died about 20 years ago."

As for Mavis and Jay Leno's relationship, he described them as "long-term, loving and supportive,” and Mavis views Jay as “her protector, and she trusts him.”

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As for Jay Leno, he has been dealing with health issues of his own. The television personality sustained second and third-degree burns from a gasoline fire back in 2022, as he was working on a steam engine underneath a car at the time.

In November 2024, he fell down a steep hill, sustaining injuries. He broke his wrist, lost a nail, and injured the entire left side of his body.

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