After Mavis Leno was diagnosed with dementia, Jay Leno wasted no time in making sure his wife and all her assets would be taken care of. He filed for a conservatorship over her, effectively becoming her full-time caregiver. But, despite the new circumstances, he was determined to keep having fun and laughing together. He somehow finds humor in their situation, even in the most unexpected ways.
Leno Makes Vulnerable Admission: ‘I Like Taking Care of Her’
“When you get married, you sort of take a vow, âWill I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy if something happens to my wife, I’m out banging the cashier at the mini mart?’” Jay Leno explained on In Depth with Graham Bensinger on April 23. “No, I didn’t. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it’s okay.”
“It’s basically what we did before,â he said about how their life has evolved. âExcept now I have to feed her and do all those things. But I like it, I like taking care of her. She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed. And I need to be there.â
âWhen you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day,” he said. “It’s a challenge. And it’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.”
Leno and Mavis first met at the Comedy Store, where he was performing. Sitting in the front row, she was instantly smitten. “It was in January — I don’t remember the day,” she told the Los Angeles Times. “But at the time I thought, Holy [expletive]! That comedian is gorgeous!”
Leno was once asked what the secret was to their happy union, and he had a fitting response. “Not screwing around is a huge key,” he joked to PeopleTV. “You can do a lot. You can leave your underwear on the doorknob for the rest of your life if you don’t screw around.”
The Last 5 Years Have Been a Challenge, but ‘There’s More Love Now’
In an attempt to help his wife retain her memories, Leno has created photo flashcards. “It’s kind of fun,” the 74-year-old comedian said. “I go, âHoney, that’s President Obama. Remember we had dinner?â She’ll say, ‘Oh, not me.â And I’ll say, ‘Yeah, honey, that was you!’”
Leno adores his wife and is adamant that he loves being with her — no matter what. “I’m not just, âThis person is attractive and sexy,’” he said. “At some point in my life, I’m gonna be called upon to defend myself. I think that’s really what defines a marriage. I mean, that’s really what love is. That’s what you do. I mean, I’m glad I didn’t cut and run. I’m glad I didn’t run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I would rather be with her than doing something else.”
âTo me, my wife never asked me not to do this,â Jay said, talking about his talk show and career in the public eye. âI always took her with me, and we always had a good time, we always had fun. Itâs like weâre on a date all the time. Weâve been married 45 years. The first 40 unbelievable, that last five have been a challenge. I think thereâs more love now.”Â
The post Jay Leno Gets Candid on Caring for Wife Amid Health Issues appeared first on EntertainmentNow.