Jay Leno denied caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, is “work” during an emotional interview about the actress’s “messy” battle with dementia.
The former talk show host, 75, gave Sunday People a rare update on his partner’s health, saying he “likes to take care of” his 79-year-old partner and “enjoys being with her.”
“I’m having a good time. I’m having fun. It is what it is,” he chimed in.
Over the weekend, Jay insisted the care was “not terrible” and pointed out that he was “lucky” because “it’s not cancer, it’s not a tumor.”
“There’s going to be a few difficult years. So the first 46 years[of marriage]were really great. But we’ll be okay,” he admitted.
“I don’t consider myself an unhappy person,” Jay added.
The former “Tonight Show” host married Mavis in November 1980.
In January, the Emmy winner filed for conservatorship for Mavis, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
He revealed at the time that he planned to “implement an estate plan that includes a revocable trust and will for Mavis, her siblings, and her only surviving heirs other than Jay.”
Guardianship was granted three months later.
Jay spoke out about Mavis’ condition in April and spoke about the “challenges” of caring for his wife.
The comedian, who needs to “find the humor” in his situations to survive them, told listeners of his podcast “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” that moments like this “really define a marriage.”
He explained, “So that’s what real love is. That’s what you do.”
Jay quipped, “When you get married, it’s like making a vow. ‘Will I keep it? Or am I going to be that sleazy guy who hits the cash register at the mini-mart if something happens to my wife?'” Jay quipped.
The couple’s marriage hasn’t changed after 45 years together, but “now I have to feed her,” he joked.
