Jay Leno Jokes About His ‘New Face’ After Recovery From Incidents That Left Him Disfigured

Jay Leno is officially a “two-faced bastard,” as the comedian jokingly put it, after recovering from two major accidents that left him with a “brand-new face.” Leno shared an update on his life, less than two years after surviving a gasoline fire that left him burned and a motorbike accident that tore his face just months later. Despite the traumatic events, the 74-year-old actor has made an impressive recovery and has found humor in the unfortunate events.

During his appearance at the Daytime Beauty Awards on September 30, 2024, Leno talked about his new face and also honored Dr. Peter Grossman, the surgeon who helped him recover from the accident. Dr. Grossman received the Outstanding Achievement in Medicine Award at the ceremony.

Jay Leno suffered from multiple accidents and now has a ‘new face’

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jay Leno’s Garage (@jaylenosgarage)

In November 2022, Leno suffered burns to his face, arms, and hands in a garage fire while working on a sports car. Initially, Leno joked about the incident, saying he was eating a Flaming Hot Doritos when the car combusted. However, he acknowledged the severity of the accident, stating, “It was pretty bad.”

After the accident, unaware of the extent of the damage to his face, Leno went home because of his wife Mavis, who is struggling with dementia. The next morning, he struggled to remove a pillow stuck to his face due to the burns, and that’s when he called the Grossman Burn Center. He underwent surgery at the Grossman Burn Center.

Leno said his recovery took nine days, and he missed two days of work. Two months later, in January 2023, the former Tonight Show host fell off his motorcycle, breaking his collarbone, ribs, and kneecaps and injuring his face.

Leno explained that a wire across the road caused the accident, and his face was torn. He mentioned that he immediately contacted Dr. Grossman, saying, “I need another face.”

Dr. Peter Grossman revealed that Leno recovered well from his burn treatments, despite the severity of his injuries. The most difficult challenge in treating Jay Leno was the “intense public scrutiny,” Grossman, a board-certified plastic surgeon, shared with E! at the Daytime Beauty Awards.

Leno expressed his contentment in life, saying his 45-year marriage to Mavis has been the source of his happiness. “I’ve been very lucky,” he said. “The secret to a long-lasting relationship is simple: don’t screw around.”

Looking ahead, Leno jokingly hopes his future doesn’t involve another accident following his recent health scares. “Things are good. I can’t complain,” he said. “I write jokes, tell jokes, get checked – it’s a simple process.”