Jay Leno cancels his Las Vegas performance after being injured in a gas fire
Jay Leno confirmed to Variety Magazine that he was “severely injured” in a gasoline fire. He says he's fine and just needs “a week or two” to recover.
Ariana Triggs, USA TODAY
Jay Leno has applied to be the administrator of his wife's estate because of his dementia diagnosis.
On Friday, Leno, 73, filed a motion in a Los Angeles court to ensure that his wife Mavis Leno's estate plan is executed correctly because she “currently lacks the necessary capacity,” according to documents obtained by USA TODAY emerges.
A hearing is scheduled for April 9.
“Unfortunately, Mavis has been increasingly losing capacity and orientation with respect to space and time for several years,” the filing says.
Mavis, 77, “suffers from dementia, a severe neurocognitive disorder,” her doctor wrote in a medical statement that also detailed the decline in her cognitive function.
USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Leno.
The revelation of Mavis' diagnosis comes more than a year after Leno suffered severe burns to his hands, face and chest in November 2022 when flames broke out while working on one of his classic cars. He underwent two procedures including surgical excision and transplantation.
Months later, in January 2023, the television personality was injured in a motorcycle accident that resulted in multiple broken bones.
The comedian's filing states that he wants to manage Mavis' half of their shared property and assets in a trust that would provide for her, her brother and Leno. The couple has no children and she has no other siblings.
The former “Tonight Show” host “has always looked after the couple’s finances throughout their 43-year marriage and will continue to do so until his death,” the petition reads, adding: “Jay is absolutely able to continue his support for Mavis' physical and financial needs, as he has done throughout their marriage.”
Leno and Mavis met at the Comedy Store in the 1970s before marrying in 1980.
“American Fiction” told my story. Being a dementia caregiver is stressful.
In an interview with People in 2019, the comedian joked that the key to his lasting relationship was “not fooling around.”
“You can leave your underwear on the doorknob for the rest of your life if you don’t fool around,” he added.
On a more serious note, Leno told the outlet: “I always tell men when they meet a woman, ‘Marry your conscience. Marry someone who is the person you want to be and it will work out well.' “
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