Jay Leno reigned as the king of talk show hosts for decades. In 2014, he finally decided to step down and retire from his show, instead focusing on living a peaceful life with his wife, Mavis.

Jay and Mavis married back in 1980. Still to this day, their love is strong. The couple, however, have curiously never had children, and it turns out they have a strong reason for that.

So how did Jay Leno turn into a celebrity star television host? And what’s the secret behind his and Mavis’s love? Here’s all you need to know!

Jay Leno is undoubtedly one of the most popular television hosts of all time. Alongside legends like Dick Van Dyke, Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart, and David Letterman, the New York native forged himself a television empire in California, reigning at the top of show business for decades.

As of today, Leno is taking it easy. He reportedly has a great interest in cars and motorcycles. At the same time, not working as a television host means having more time over for his wife and the love of his life, Maples Leno.

Of course, becoming a legendary television host didn’t happen overnight for Jay Leno. That said, it seemed like he was always destined to become one of the greatest.

Jay Leno was born on April 28, 1950, in New Rochelle, New York. His father, Angelo, worked as a salesman. His mother, Cathryn, was a homemaker.

Jay Leno – early life

For a long time, Jay planned to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in sales. However, that would all change when he became a real funny guy at school.

Leno grew up in Andover, Massachusetts after his family left the New York area when he was young. He loved performing pranks and practical jokes in school – his fifth-grade teacher even noted as much in one of his report cards.

“If Jay spent as much time studying as he does try to be a comedian, he’d be a big star,” Leno recalled.

It turned out that his teacher had it right. In fact, Leno praised his teachers for being supportive, planting a sort of seed for his future career.

I had wonderful teachers, I would not be in show business without them,” Leno recalled.

“I remember Mrs. Hawke, my English teacher, who said to me, ‘You know, you’re always telling jokes in the hall, why don’t you write some of those stories down and maybe you can tell them to the class?’ It would have never occurred to me to do that because that just seemed like homework.  And for the first time in my life, homework was actually enjoyable.

“I’d write something down, and then cross it out, saying now that doesn’t sound right and then write it again,” he added. “And then she’d have me stand up in front of the class and have me read these stories and I realize now that they weren’t very good, but at the time I got a few laughs and she said, ‘Maybe you could be a comedy writer or something like that.’