For Jay Leno, humor has been his anchor as he navigates his wife Mavis’ ongoing battle with dementia. The 74-year-old comedian shared with The Post that he still makes Mavis laugh every day, finding joy in the small, funny moments they share together.
“We go back on YouTube — they have all the ‘Headlines’ [segments] we did over the years. And my wife enjoys those, and it’s like she forgets she just saw it, so she laughs again at the same jokes. For a comedian, that’s great,” Leno explained. It’s clear that laughter remains a key part of their bond, even as they face the challenges of Mavis’ condition.
Last year, Leno revealed that Mavis, 78, has been living with advanced dementia, and he was granted conservatorship over her care. Though some days are difficult, with Mavis sometimes not recognizing him, Jay remains positive. “It’s OK,” he said. “She’s not in any pain. Anybody that’s dealt with this knows that. I enjoy her company. I would still rather be with her than not be with her … But is it ideal? No.”
Despite the changes in their lives, Jay and Mavis maintain their familiar routines. “When The Tonight Show finished, I would just come home every night and work on the monologue and be with my wife, and we’d watch a movie or watch TV. It’s pretty much the same thing now, except now I just kind of go, ‘You know, honey, you know what this movie is about?’ You just have to explain.”
The couple, married for 45 years, still finds comfort in these shared moments, even as Jay continues his career. After hosting The Tonight Show for over two decades, Leno has recently taken on a role as Ed Sullivan in the biopic Midas Man, which tells the story of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Jay recalled how the role came about: “I just got a phone call one day from England. It’s a pleasant movie. It really does hark back to that era of optimism.”
Although Jay has transitioned from late-night TV to acting, his comedy roots are still very much alive. “I enjoy being a comedian. I enjoy going on the road,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not a Netflix special guy. I don’t want to do my act once and get a huge check. I’d rather do it hundreds of times for small checks.”