Mavis Leno

Mavis Leno
Leno in 1987
Born
Mavis Elizabeth Nicholson

(1946-09-05) September 5, 1946 (age 78)
San Francisco, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​

Mavis Elizabeth Nicholson Leno (born September 5, 1946)[1] is an American philanthropist and wife of Jay Leno, the former host of The Tonight Show.[2]

Leno keeps a low profile in comparison to her husband, choosing instead to work behind the scenes of the non-profit groups she supports and runs.[3] Leno has been the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan since 1997.[2] In 1999, Leno and her husband donated $100,000 to the organization, to further the cause of educating the public about the plight of Afghan women under the Taliban.[4] The organization successfully protested the construction of an oil pipeline through Afghanistan, which could potentially have brought in billions of dollars to the Taliban.[5][6] According to Melissa Rossi,[7] Leno was a driving force in changing the opinion of U.S. President Bill Clinton and the executives of the now defunct oil company Unocal Corporation concerning the Taliban, after Leno had shed light on the group's treatment of women.[7]

In January 2024, Jay Leno filed a petition for conservatorship of Mavis's estate, stating she has dementia.[8] According to a report for the court written by a neurologist, she experiences periods of disorientation and at times does not know who her husband is or her own date of birth.[9][10] The application for conservatorship was granted on April 9, 2024.[11] Mavis Leno's lawyer told the court she was "in agreement" with the conservatorship and she told the court that she was "receiving excellent care" from her husband. The couple made a public appearance several weeks later at the premiere of Jerry Seinfeld's film, Unfrosted.[12]

  1. ^ CA Births 1905-1995[dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b "Mavis Leno: Lives of Afghan Women". CNN. November 9, 2001.
  3. ^ "Hollywood's Latest Cause: Can A Pack Of Celebrities Save Afghanistan's Women?". Newsweek. December 6, 1999.
  4. ^ "So Many Causes, So Little Time". Newsweek. February 21, 2000. Archived from the original on 2009-04-10.
  5. ^ Sylvester, Sherri (November 21, 2001). "Jay and Mavis Leno Stay Active in War Effort". Showbiz Today. CNN.
  6. ^ Mills, Kimberly (April 10, 2002). "Mavis Leno voice for silenced women". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  7. ^ a b Rossi, Melissa L. (2003). What Every American Should Know About the Rest of the World: Your Guide to Today's Hot Spots, Hot Shots and Incendiary Issues. Plume. ISBN 0-452-28405-8.
  8. ^ "Jay Leno files for conservatorship of his wife's estate; petition says spouse of 43 years suffering from dementia". nbcnews.com. NBC News. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Jay Leno Granted Conservatorship of Joint Estate With Wife Mavis Amid Her Dementia Battle". Entertainment Tonight. April 9, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  10. ^ "Doctor Says Jay Leno's Wife Mavis 'Sometimes Does Not Know Her Husband' Amid Dementia Conservatorship Filing". Entertainment Tonight. April 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Rosenbloom, Alli. "Jay Leno granted conservatorship of wife Mavis Leno's estate". CNN.
  12. ^ "Jay Leno and wife Mavis give update on her dementia battle as couple enjoys date night at movie premiere". New York Post. May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.