Beloved comedian Jay Leno recently appeared in public with an eye patch and fractured wrist. Three hours before his Saturday night show, he suffered from a 60-foot fall. He shares his story of how his injuries came to be.
Leno Tried to Find A Shortcut
In an interview with Inside Edition, Leno revealed his swollen left eye to reporter Jim Moret. He told him he was staying at a Hampton Inn outside of Pittsburg. He got hungry and wanted to stop by a local restaurant nearby before his show. The restaurant is a 1.5-mile walk from where Leno was staying. Instead, the comedian tried to take a shorter route. He underestimated the steepness of the hill, tumbling 60 feet towards the ground.
Leno told Moret his body hit many rocks on the way down. He partially showed the cast on his right arm and bandaged middle finger. He lost a fingernail and broke his wrist. Despite his injuries, he performed at his scheduled show on Saturday after treatment. Leno refused to take the day off, wanting to perform to see the crowd smile rather than worry.
Comedian’s Second Accident in 2 Years
Leno’s Hampton Inn Hill accident is the second time he received major injuries on his face. Back in November 2022, he suffered third-degree burns while working on his 1907 White Motor Co. steam car. He was hospitalized and treated for nine days at Grossman Burn Center. On Dec. 13th, Leno explained the events to Hoda Koth in an exclusive TODAY interview.
He noticed the car’s fuel line was clogged and blew air into it. Suddenly, his face caught on flames and he cried out to his best friend, Dave Killacky. Killacky quickly pulled Leno out and doused the fire by hugging him against his chest. Then, he instructed him to treat his face with cold water. The results showed that Leno’s ear got burned off and skin peeled from below the nose to the chin.
Killacky called the Burbank Fire Department, bringing his friend to the hospital. After doctors ordered him to visit the Grossman Burn Center, Leno wanted to pick up his wife. Mavis. Koth shockingly reacted, “Wait, you drove yourself home?” He calmly responded, “Yes because of my wife. She can’t drive anymore and I didn’t want her to be stuck worrying.” They spent their time together at the Burns Center.
A Strong, Kind Heart
Despite his injuries, Leno grew more concerned for his doctors and nurses. He saw they were very worried throughout the process of his recovery. He would treat the staff to pizzas during late shifts and tap the glass on his hyperbaric chamber to start conversations. As mentioned earlier, the comedian wanted others to feel good before himself. His charismatic energy after both incidents has shown the kind, selfless man beyond the jokes.
As of today, the reason why Leno performing his most recent shows is to gather donations. He wanted to thank the Grossman Burn Center for their generosity. After all, they helped him get a new ear and skin and stayed alongside him until he grew well. He joins Comedy for a Cause to help spread awareness on burned patient treatment.
Thoughts on Jay Leno’s Condition
It’s incredible to see this 74-year-old comedian staying strong for himself and his fans. There are not many celebrities with a caring nature after their accidents. Leno did admit that it was his lack of judgment when he took a step onto the 60-foot hill. Yet, he knew he would always bounce back if he was offering support and return it with kindness. His burning incident has prepared him to face recovery head-on with a positive attitude.
