Comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno suffered his third major accident in two years after falling 60 feet down a rocky hill outside Pittsburgh, adding to a concerning pattern of injuries for the 74-year-old performer.
“The hill doesn’t look that steep – about 60, 70 feet. Let me see if I can down there… (he screams) and then I fell down, boom, boom, boom,” Leno told TMZ, describing his ill-fated shortcut from a Hampton Inn to a nearby restaurant before a scheduled performance.
The former “Tonight Show” host emerged “all black and blue” with a broken wrist, lost fingernail, and an eye swollen shut from a rock impact. True to form, Leno performed his show just three hours later, only seeking medical treatment after returning to Los Angeles.
“The great thing about this age is that you don’t learn by your mistakes – you just keep doing the same stupid things,” Leno quipped to TMZ about his string of accidents, which includes severe burns from a garage fire in November 2022 and a motorcycle crash that left him with a broken collarbone, two fractured ribs, and cracked kneecaps.
Despite the injuries, Leno maintains his rigorous performance schedule. He’s set to appear Wednesday at a charity event benefiting the Grossman Burn Center, where he received treatment for his 2022 burns.
The accidents haven’t dampened his enthusiasm for performing or cars. “It isn’t a big deal, it’s alright,” he told TMZ, maintaining the work ethic that sees him continuing shows despite injuries.
The incident occurred when Leno, facing a mile-and-a-half walk suggested by hotel staff, opted for what seemed like a shorter route down the hill – a decision that added to his growing list of mishaps.
Comedian Jay Leno says his eye is swollen after he fell down a 60 foot hill. pic.twitter.com/FVbzOFU5Fl
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) November 19, 2024