Jay Leno Stays by Wife Mavis’ Side Amid Dementia Diagnosis: Fans Shocked by His Devotion

 Jay Leno Stays by Wife Mavis’ Side Amid Dementia Diagnosis: Fans Shocked by His Devotion

Jay Leno Stays by Wife Mavis’ Side Amid Dementia Diagnosis: Fans Shocked by His Devotion

Jay Leno will always be there for his wife, Mavis. 

The former late-night talk show host, 75, opened up about his and Mavis' marriage and the remarks he's received amid her health journey, while appearing as a guest on a recent episode of the Life Above the Noise With Maria Shriver podcast. Mavis was diagnosed with advanced dementia in early 2024.

“I’ve said this a bunch of times, you take a vow when you get married and people are stunned … they’re so shocked that you would live up to it,” Jay told Shriver, 70, during the episode, which premiered on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Jay and Mavis, 79, have been married since 1980 after they met while he was performing at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles. 

In April 2024, Jay was granted conservatorship of her.

During his discussion with Shriver, the comedian shared how some people react to him honoring his vows. 

Mavis during an interview with host and husband Jay Leno on March 23, 1999.

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

“My favorite thing was — this is the most Hollywood thing. A guy said to me, ‘So, are you gonna get a girlfriend now?’ ” he recalled. 

Jay told the unidentified individual, “‘Well no, I have a girlfriend. I’m married. Married 45 years.’ ”

The person allegedly became insistent, telling the Jay Leno's Garage star, “‘Yeah, but you know what I mean.’ ”

However, the comedian stood firm in his belief to honor his marriage. 

“No, we’re kinda in this together here,” he said. After joking about telling Mavis he was going out with his “girlfriend,” he later reflected on how times have changed, and how society now views relationships, observing that people seem to raise eyebrows when “you’re just doing the right thing because you’re supposed to.”

“That used to be the norm, and then when you strayed that was the out of whack part. Now the out of whack part is fairly common, and staying and doing what you’re supposed to do is stunning to people,” Jay said.

Jay Leno and wife Mavis, 1998 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Margaret C. Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Still, after more than 40 years of marriage, he expressed his relief that her dementia diagnosis has been their most challenging hurdle.

“This is that thing of, ‘Okay, you’ve been pretty lucky up to this point. It’s been easy sailing. This is where it gets a little tricky,’ ” he said.

Jay also told ​​Shriver that making Mavis laugh “is still one of my primary things.”'

He recalled a time when he and his spouse were in bed at around 2 a.m., and she told him that she loved him. 

“I said, ‘You’re having a nightmare, go back to bed.’ She thought that was the funniest thing; she just couldn’t stop laughing,” Jay said. “And to me, that’s what’s fun. ‘Oh, I got a laugh out of her.’ ”

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