Who is Jay Leno’s philanthropist wife of 44 years, Mavis Leno? The ex Tonight Show host was granted conservatorship of his 77-year-old partner, after she was diagnosed with dementia

Apr 13 , 2024

Jay Leno and Mavis Leno have been together for over 40 years. Photo: Getty Images

Jay Leno was officially granted conservatorship of his wife Mavis amid her ongoing struggles with advanced dementia – she ‘sometimes does not know her husband’

Mavis has been involved in various philanthropic causes, joining the Feminist Majority Foundation’s board of directors in 1997 and the organisation’s campaign to stop gender apartheid in Afghanistan

Jay Leno was officially granted conservatorship of his wife, Mavis Leno, on Tuesday, amid her ongoing struggles with degenerative brain disease.

Mavis, 77, has been diagnosed with advanced dementia and “sometimes does not know her husband”, according to her doctors.

The former Tonight Show host, who has been married to Mavis for more than 40 years, filed for conservatorship in January as her health declined from Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

Jay Leno and Mavis Leno. Photo: Penske Media via Getty Images

“Unfortunately, Mavis has been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years,” read the original petition.

While it’s unclear when Mavis was first diagnosed, her husband reportedly delayed seeking conservatorship “out of respect to her”.

Jay, 73, further said he was only seeking conservatorship over her estate to set up a living trust to provide for her care in case he’s unable. Jay suffered serious burns in November 2022 when a car in his garage caught fire, and broke multiple bones in a motorcycle accident in January 2023.

During Tuesday’s hearing at Los Angeles County Superior Court, an attorney for Mavis agreed with the conservatorship decision and said his client is “receiving excellent care with her husband”, according to People.

Earlier this month, Mavis’ court-appointed counsel, Ronald Ostrin, recommended the approval of Jay’s petition. He also described their relationship as “long-term, loving and supportive”.

Here’s what else we know about Mavis Leno.