Jay Leno is no stranger to physical misfortunes, and his latest tumble is yet another addition to a growing list of accidents the iconic comedian has endured — always with a sharp wit and determined attitude.
While staying at a Pennsylvania Hampton Inn recently, the 74-year-old decided to take a short walk to grab dinner before a performance. Opting for a shortcut, Leno misjudged the steepness of a hill and tumbled a dramatic 60 feet, hitting his head on a rock. The result? A broken wrist, a lost fingernail, and a face now “all black and blue,” as he told Inside Edition.
“I broke my wrist, lost my nail on the finger, and then I’m all black and blue,” he recounted, sporting an eye patch. To TMZ, he joked, “I fell down. Boom, boom, boom. I rolled down the hill, hit my head on a rock, knocked me in the eye — there you go.”
Work Comes First
The accident happened right before a show at Yaamava’ Casino in Southern California, but Leno didn’t let the injuries stop him. True to his workhorse reputation, he performed the show before finally heading to the hospital for treatment.
When asked if he was worried about his injuries, Leno shrugged it off. “It’ll be fine, I’m not worried about it,” he told Inside Edition. In typical Leno fashion, he displayed his trademark resilience and humor, adding to TMZ, “I’m holding up fine — I’m right here talking to you.”
A History of Mishaps
This latest incident is part of a string of recent injuries for the comedian, who appears determined to keep working no matter what life throws his way.
November 2022: Leno was working on one of his beloved cars in his garage when a gasoline fire erupted, leaving him with second- and third-degree burns on his face, chest, and hands. He spent nine days at the Grossman Burn Center undergoing skin grafts and recovering, though he refused pain medications. “The pain is a reminder that I’m an idiot,” he quipped afterward.
January 2023: Just two months after the fire, Leno revealed he had been knocked off his motorcycle. The crash left him with a broken collarbone, two broken ribs, and two cracked kneecaps. Naturally, he still worked that weekend.
Laughing Through It All
Despite these injuries, Leno’s attitude remains upbeat. Reflecting on his string of accidents, he joked to TMZ, “The great thing about this age [is] you don’t learn by your mistakes, you just keep doing the same stupid thing.”
Jay Leno’s perseverance and humor in the face of adversity continue to make him a beloved figure, reminding fans that no matter how many times you fall — even literally — it’s always possible to get back up and keep going.
—
Photo Credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com