Jay Leno has detailed the “toughest part” of caring for his wife Mavis Leno, who is battling advanced dementia.
Speaking with Hoda Kotb on Thursday’s Today show, the comedian spoke about the “heartbreaking moments” that Mavis relived every day for three years.
“The hardest part was waking up every day and finding out that someone had called to tell her that her mother had passed away,” he said. “Her mother died every day for three years, and for the first time she learns and not just cries.
“That was really tough, really tough.”
The 75-year-old host of “The Jay Leno Show” also detailed that conversations look different these days because “we can’t talk about a lot of things.”
He said Mavis, 79, would point and “say things I don’t understand” and ask about various noises she was hearing outside.
“She wants reassurance that everything is okay.”
In a conversation with Kotb, Jay explained that the philanthropist is trying to maintain a sense of normalcy even though she is no longer able to do many of the things she used to enjoy.
“I wish I could take her out to eat and things like that, but that’s not possible,” he said, noting that then “they’ll get help and take her to the car and run around and see things.”
“It’s a shame because she’s fallen in love with traveling. So it’s a shame she can’t travel.”
Nevertheless, the couple, who have been married for 45 years, bond by watching travel and animal videos on YouTube, and she says she “loves flashcards.”
Jay said Mavis was very independent before she was diagnosed, but now she “really needs” her.
“And I like it, and I can see that she appreciates it, too,” he added, noting that despite their marriage vows, “no one feels called to action.”
“For better or for worse, even the worst is not so bad.”
Despite the sad moments of illness, the two love to reminisce about the early days of their relationship.
“You can see her smile and you can tell she’s happy,” he concluded. “And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I just melt.”
It is unclear when the activist was diagnosed, but Kotubu noted in an interview that her symptoms of the disease had been ignored for years.
In January 2024, Page Six confirmed that Jay filed for conservatorship following his wife’s tragic diagnosis.
Court documents revealed that Mavis sometimes did not notice the comedian, even though he continued a routine of going out to dinner and going on dates at comedy clubs.
Back in April 2025, the former “Tonight Show” host said he loves spending time with his wife. Even if the couple’s days look very different from the previous year.
“I just go home, make dinner for her, and watch TV,” he said during an episode of the podcast “In Depth with Graham Bensinger.”
And earlier this month, he told People that he decided to look for “fun” in his new life.
