Jay Leno reveals ‘toughest part’ of caring for wife Mavis amid dementia battle: ‘Really hard’

Jay Leno detailed the “toughest part” of caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, amid her battle with advanced dementia.

Speaking to Hoda Kotb on the “Today” show Thursday, the comedian described a “heartbreaking moment” that Mavis relived every day for three years.

“The toughest part was that, every day, she would wake up and realize someone had called to tell her her mother had passed away,” he recounted. “Her mother died every day for three years. And not just crying, you’re learning for the first time.

“That was really tricky, that was really hard.”

Jay Leno revealed the “toughest part” of caring for his wife, Mavis Leno.NBC

He spoke to Hoda Kotb on the “Today Show” Thursday.NBC

“The toughest part was that, every day, she would wake up and realize someone had called to tell her her mother had passed away,” he recounted.FilmMagic, Inc

The “Jay Leno Show” host, 75, also detailed that conversations are looking different these days because they “can’t talk about a lot of things.”

He described that Mavis, 79, will point and “say something that doesn’t make sense” or ask about different noises she hears outside.

“She wants to be reassured that everything is OK.”

During his chat with Kotb, Jay explained that he tries to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the philanthropist not being able to do the many things she enjoyed before.

“Her mother died every day for three years. And not just crying, you’re learning for the first time.NBC

He also opened up about how he will drive Mavis around to get her out of the house.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Mavis and Jay have been married for 45 years.FilmMagic
“I wish I could take her out and go out to eat and things like that, but you can’t really,” he said before pointing out that they “will get some help and take her out to the car and drive around and look at stuff.

“I feel bad because it reaches a point where she loves to travel, so I’m sad she can’t do those things.”

Nonetheless, the couple, who have been married for 45 years, bond over watching travel and animal videos on YouTube — though she’s “really big on flash cards.”

Jay reflected that, despite Mavis being a fiercely independent person before her diagnosis, she now “really needs” him.

Although it’s unclear when Mavis was diagnosed, her diagnosis was revealed in 2024.Getty Images for Netflix

Jay has obtained conservatorship over Mavis.Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
“And I like that and I can tell she appreciates it,” he added before noting that, despite their wedding vows, “nobody ever thinks they’ll be called upon to act” on them.

“You know, for better or worse, but even the worst is not that bad.”

Despite the sad moments in their illness, the two love to reminisce about the early days of their relationship.

“I can see the smile, I can see that she’s happy,” he concluded. “And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I melt.”

While it’s unclear when the activist was diagnosed, Kotb noted during the interview that the symptoms of her illness had been ignored for years.

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“I can see the smile, I can see that she’s happy,” he said at the end of his interview with Kotb. “And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I melt.”WireImage

Jay has previously spoken about Mavis’ health since her diagnosis.BACKGRID

Court documents revealed that Mavis sometimes did not recognize the comedian, though they maintained their routine of going out for dinner and date nights at the comedy club.

Fast forward to April 2025, the former “Tonight Show” host said he loves spending time with his wife — even if their days look drastically different from the year before.

“I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV, and it’s OK,” he said during an episode of the “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” podcast.

And earlier this month, he told People that they’ve decided to look for the “fun” in their new life.