Copyright Staten Island Advance
Comedian Jay Leno says he finds fulfillment in caring for his wife, Mavis, 77, who was diagnosed with advanced dementia in April 2024, PEOPLE reported. Leno, 75, spoke with the outlet at the 34th Annual Love Ride on Nov. 9 at the Harley-Davidson of Glendale in California, rejecting the notion that caring for his wife of 44 years is a burden. “I’ve been very lucky in my life. My wife is fighting dementia and all that but it’s not cancer. It’s not a tumor, so I enjoy taking care of her,” Leno said. The comedian and former late-night host said he wants to dispel misconceptions about the couple’s situation. “It’s not work, because people come up and say they feel so sorry. I understand the sympathy, because I know a lot of people are going through it, but it’s okay,” he said. “I like taking care of her. I enjoy her company, and we have a good time. We have fun with it, and it is what it is.” Leno, who married Mavis in 1980, acknowledged that while the future may present challenges, he maintains a positive outlook, the PEOPLE report said. “There are going to be a couple of years that are tricky. So, the first 46, really great. But it’s okay. It’s not terrible. I’m not a woe-is-me person. I’m just lucky that I am able to take care of her,” he said. In September, Leno told the outlet that maintaining a routine of coming home every night remains a priority, even when work requires travel. “I come home every day. I went to Puerto Rico for the day. The plane waited and I came right back,” he said. “That’s what I do. I try to be home every night.”
