Jay Leno: Caring for My Wife Isn't 'Work'

Jay Leno spoke to People about caring for his wife, Mavis, who has advanced dementia, and he pushed back against describing what he does as "work."

• "It's not work, because people come up, and say they feel so sorry," said Leno, 75. "I understand the sympathy, because I know a lot of people are going through it, but it's OK."
• "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." The former late-night host said he feels lucky to be in the position to help, adding, "I'm not a woe-is-me person."

• He described a routine focused on being present at home, saying he always returns at night, even when work takes him far from Los Angeles. "I went to Puerto Rico for the day, and [the] plane waited and I came right back," he said. "That's what I do. I try to be home every night."
• In April, Leno was granted conservatorship of Mavis, with her attorney noting she was "receiving excellent care" from her husband. Mavis is 79, per the New York Post. The two married in 1980.