Jay Leno is honoring every vow he made to his wife Mavis, even as advanced dementia reshapes their 45-year marriage.
The comedian, 75, told Life Above the Noise with Maria Shriver that strangers are stunned he refuses to walk away after Mavis’ 2024 diagnosis. “People are shocked that you would live up to it,” he said on the January 11 episode.
A Vow He Won’t Break
Leno recalled a Hollywood acquaintance asking, “So, are you gonna get a girlfriend now?”
His reply: “No, I have a girlfriend. I’m married. Married 45 years.”
The man persisted, insisting Leno knew “what I mean.” The comic shot back: “We’re kinda in this together here.”
Diagnosis and Conservatorship
- Mavis, 79, was diagnosed with advanced dementia in early 2024
- A court granted Jay conservatorship in April 2024
- The couple wed in 1980 after meeting at L.A.’s Comedy Store
Leno calls the illness their first real marital test. “You’ve been pretty lucky… This is where it gets tricky,” he told Shriver.
Still Making Her Laugh
Despite memory loss, Leno’s priority is keeping Mavis smiling.
At 2 a.m. she once whispered, “I love you.” Leno teased, “You’re having a nightmare-go back to bed.” Mavis burst into laughter, a moment Jay treasures: “I got a laugh out of her.”
Shifting Social Norms
Leno laments that staying faithful now “stuns” people more than cheating.
- “Doing the right thing… is stunning”
- Infidelity is “fairly common”
- Loyalty has become the “out of whack” choice
He remains unfazed by outside pressure, citing their decades-long bond as reason enough to stay the course.
Key Takeaways
- Jay and Mavis Leno have been married since 1980
- Mavis’ 2024 dementia diagnosis led to Jay’s conservatorship
- Jay rejects suggestions to find a new partner, honoring his original vows
- He continues to prioritize laughter and daily connection with his wife
