Jay Leno Addresses Rumors That His Recent Injuries Were from Getting Beat Up by the Mob

Jay Leno sets the record straight about his recent string of injuries.

Former Tonight’s show host, 74, appeared on the Dec. 22 episode of Bill Maher Club by chance podcast to discuss comedy, live performances and the early days of their careers as stand-up performers. During the conversation, Maher, 68, asked Len about recent rumors that his injuries were the result of a mob beating over gambling debts.

“Well, I like the idea that they wouldn’t just take one of my cars for a gambling debt,” the New York-born comedian quickly replied. (Leno is known to own nearly 200 cars, many of which are rare collector’s items worth several million dollars.)

Jay Leno (left) and Nigel Daly pose at the 2021 BritWeek Luxury Car Rally.

Rodin Eckenroth/Getty

Leno then got serious, revealing that while he personally has no ties to the mob, he did have a run-in with a mob member when he was a rising comedian trying to capture his big time success.

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“I was pretty smart,” he told Maher. “I remember many years ago I was at [the East Coast-based comedy club] Catch a rising star, and I was on stage and this guy – a mobster – came up to me afterwards and said, ‘Hey, you’re a funny kid. You are a funny child.’ ”

“Take $100 and put it in my pocket,” he continued. “I say, ‘Oh, thanks.’ I say, ‘Look, I don’t mean any offense, but, you know, give it to the church or something… I’m fine, but thanks.’ And he says to me: ‘You know, you’re a smart kid. You don’t take money from people like me. That’s smart.’ And no one bothered me anymore.”

Leno then shared that while he personally never had a problem, he used to see the mob “correcting comics left and right” because they were “smart a——” on stage.

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Leno also said that the rumors about the cause of his injuries are unfounded for the simple reason that he doesn’t like gambling. “I don’t gamble,” he insisted, adding, “Losing $100 makes me feel dumber than winning a thousand makes me feel better. Because I say, ‘I could have taken my wife to dinner.’ ”

Jay Leno in November 2023.

Monica Schipper/Getty

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In November, the former late-night host was spotted stepping out with a badly bruised face, sparking an uproar among fans. At the time, Leno told TMZ that the injuries were caused by falling down a steep hill, and later said Inside Edition that during the fall he broke his wrist, lost a nail on one finger and bruised the entire left side of his body. He had to wear an eye patch during his recovery.

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The fall comes a year after the USO Show alum suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, chest and arms while working on one of his cars when a gasoline fire broke out. He underwent a series of surgical excisions and grafts for his injuries and spent 10 days in a recovery facility.

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