The death of a loved one – especially a parent or sibling – can be one of the most
heartbreaking, faith-testing, and life-changing events in one's life.
And as much as we seem to enjoy putting celebrities up on these lofty pedestals, they're human
just like us.
So, when they have to deal with the loss of someone as close as their brother, sister,
mother, or father, they are run through the emotional gauntlet just like the rest of us.
Famed comedian and talk show host Jay Leno knows this difficult life lesson all too well
because back in 1994, he lost both of his parents to cancer.
Less than a decade later, his little brother Patrick was also diagnosed with the disease.
On the sixth of October, 2002, Patrick passed away at the age of 62.
Yes, in less than a decade, Jay Leno lost a considerable chunk of his family.
With that heartbreaking loss, Leno must have felt like his entire support system was crumbling
before his very eyes.
Losing one close loved one is distressing enough, but to lose three in such a relatively
short period of time had to have been one of the most turbulent experiences of his life.
While Jay Leno has since picked up the pieces of his shattered heart and has done his best
to keep trudging forward into the future with confidence and grace, it's not surprising
that he's still reeling from those back-to-back family deaths.
Patrick Leno passed away twenty years ago, but his death, coupled with the loss of his
parents, is still something that Leno thinks about often.
It's fairly safe to say that Jay Leno will never recover from his family tragedy.
Join Facts Verse as we take a closer look at this tragic chapter of Leno's life and
how it's continued to affect him in monumental ways all these years later.
Leno’s Father’s Death Cut Him Deep
They say that the camera never lies, but we know that that old expression couldn't be
further from the truth.
Just watch any television series, blockbuster film, or reality program, and you'll quickly
see that the camera is more than capable of bending the truth, blurring the lines of reality,
and distorting the facts when under the control of those who are adept at the art of manipulation.
Cable news networks and tech-savvy politicians have been exploiting this fact for ages.
Nowhere on TV is the line separating fact and fiction – acting and actuality – less
discernible than on late-night, celebrity-laden talk shows, where guest stars performances
shmoozing with the host and presenting a finely crafted version of their selves for millions
of viewers at home to see, is often mistaken for some kind of insightful, candid truth.
This really shouldn't surprise anyone, though.
After all, if you put an actor in front of a camera, they're going to act.
That being said, over the years on late-night TV, we've seen a few notable exceptions to
this rule.
For example, back in 1992, Sally Jessy Raphael spoke openly about the tragic death of her
daughter, Allison Vladimir, who passed away at the age of 33.
On another occasion, Johnny Carson broke form and allowed himself to get vulnerable in front
of the camera when he delivered an emotional eulogy for his 39-year-old son, Rick, who
passed away in a car accident in 1991.
As Carson discussed his son's passing, he clearly was fighting back tears.
Honestly, there probably wasn't a dry eye in the audience either.
Another example of a celebrity pushing aside their theatrics and opening up to the audience
was the time that Jay Leno delivered a loving testimonial to his late father.
This tender moment was brutally honest, unrestrained, and unforgettable.
All too often the media impersonalizes death by discussing it routinely and depicting it
in this 'matter of fact' manner.
But Leno's remarks were quite the opposite.
Although his show typically was saturated in fun and lightheartedness, this deeply personal
segment reminded us all of just how relatably human Leno really is.
Before Leno discussed his father's passing on his popular late-night program, he acknowledged
just how awkward it was to segue from a humorous monologue to a serious discussion of mortality
and loss.
He mentioned that for someone in his line of work – someone whose job it is to write
jokes and make people laugh – it's difficult when they are dealing with the trials and
tribulations of life just like everyone else.
Leno then proceeded to tell a few sweet and funny stories about his father in a clear
attempt to keep the mood elevated and not come across as such a downer, but despite
this approach, there was nothing inauthentic bout his heartfelt musing.
You could feel Leno's emotions almost as clearly as you can feel your own.
There wasn't any artificial sentiment crafted to evoke tears or sympathy.
This was the real deal.
On our TV screens, we saw a man who deeply loved and cared about his father.
We could see the pain of grief in his eyes.
It was all so genuine and, once again, distinctly human.
No doubt, not a soul changed the channel when Leno broke form and opened up about his experience.
When Leno discussed his father's death, it had only been a week since he witnessed him
draw his last breath.
Without question, the sting of that experience still lingered heavily on his heart and mind.
Leno also mentioned during that monologue that his mother, Catherine, had died within
the previous year.
Heartbreakingly, he revealed that his father didn't have much reason to go on once his
wife was gone.
After all, they were happily married for fifty-seven years.
Jay's father, Angelo, had grown up a street kid in New York City.
He was the son of immigrant parents, and he apparently dropped out of school at some point,
although Jay says that he never found out how far he had gotten, as Angelo would never
tell him.
As an adult, Angelo became a prize fighter and truck driver.
He was also a gifted mechanic who knew his way around the garage.
He eventually made a career as an insurance salesman, working his way up the ladder to
become a district manager.
After accomplishing that, Angelo decided to go back to school to further better himself.
Jay described him as a 'real up-from-the-bootstraps kind of guy'.
Leno further said that his father never said a cross word to his mother, nor did he ever
raise his hand to her.
Angelo loved Catherine with all of his heart and would have never done anything intentionally
to cause her harm.
Further painting his father as a man of strong moral caliber, Jay said that he never saw
him drunk and never once did he ever utter an 'ethnic slur'.
To further illustrate that point, Jay told a story about a letter he received from a
woman in Harlem who was trying to get in touch with his father.
As opposed to some of his insurance salesman colleagues who didn't think black people had
a future, Angelo never discriminated in his door-to-door insurance sales.
In fact, he was the only white person that that woman from Harlem ever let into her family's
house.
Not only did he treat her with dignity and respect as a client, but Angelo evidently
also would bring her family gifts and candy while sticking around to tell stories.
In his eulogizing, Leno went on to describe how his father and mother never gave up on
him.
Throughout his life – from those early days when he was still virtually a nobody till
the years when he was sitting on the top of the world as the late-night king – Leno's
parents were always there to lift him up and remind him that he was still their son.
Wrapping up his loving testimonial, Leno acknowledged that it can be very lonely at the top, but
even though being a celebrity has come with its share of unexpected troubles and trials,
he addressed his father one last time by saying that he would never stop fighting the good
fight.
The Death of Leno’s Brother Reopened Old Wounds
Patrick Leno, Jay Leno's little brother, was born on May 12, 1990.
Growing up, the two siblings were very close.
They lived in Andover, Massachusetts, which is where Patrick would later own a house as
an adult.
In a 60 Minutes interview in 2014, Jay recalled that Patrick was always 'the smart one'.
He even attended Yale.
Not only was he well-learned, but Patrick also distinguished himself as a Vietnam War
vet.
After serving in the military, he went on to become an attorney.
After hitting it big, Jay made sure that he took care of his brother.
He even purchased a house for him, which he has continued to hold on to despite Patrick's
passing.
Jay and Patrick were very different people, but they cared for each other deeply.
Patrick was there for Jay when he needed him the most.
When their parents died in 1994, the two were each other’s emotional support system.
That’s why when Patrick died of cancer in 2002, Jay felt especially brokenhearted.
The passing of Jay’s parents as well as his brother in less than a decade left him
without a family.
Sadly, he’s the last one of his bloodline still left standing.
Fortunately, Leno isn't completely alone these days, as he's been happily married to his
beloved wife, Mavis Nicholson, since 1980.
The couple doesn't have any children, as Mavis made the decision to not have kids years ago.
Jay, being the loving and supportive husband that he is, never questioned that decision
and has stood by Mavis' side through thick and thin.
Leno stopped hosting The Tonight Show in 2014.
Since then, he has hosted the programs Jay Leno's Garage, and You Bet Your Life.
Despite not officially being retired, Leno no longer is in the spotlight quite like he
once was at the height of his career in the 90s and 00s.
At 72, Leno has been enjoying his golden years by pursuing his hobbies and passions.
Famously, he is an avid collector of classic cars.
Amazingly, he has 286 vehicles in his collection.
Jay and his wife are also very devoted to helping better the world through philanthropy.
Some of the organizations and causes that they have contributed sizable chunks of wealth
to include the Feminist Majority Foundation’s campaign to put an end to gender apartheid
in Afghanistan, as well as the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Foundation, the Starkey hearing foundation,
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Livestrong, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
As you might have heard, on November 12, 2022, Leno suffered severe burns to his hands and
face when a vehicle at his LA garage burst into flames.
Fortunately, after spending two weeks in the hospital receiving treatment, Leno is expected
to make a full recovery.
With that, we'll go ahead and wrap this video up.
But now that you've heard what we have to say, we'd love to hear your take on things.
Did you know that Jay Leno lost his mother, father, and little brother, Patrick, all to
cancer within just one decade, and were you aware that he and his wife, Mavis, have never
had any children?
Let us know in the comments.