Jimmy Fallon shares heartbreak over losing his ‘first baby’: ‘She was the last name we signed on every birthday card’

Jimmy Fallon is mourning the loss of a beloved family member whom he regarded as his “first baby.” The Tonight Show host penned a heartfelt tribute for his late pet dog, Gary, an English cream Golden Retriever, who passed away on October 20, 2025. As a grieving pet owner, Fallon recounted all the good times he shared with his furry friend over the past decade. He posted a carousel on his Instagram (@jimmyfallon) with a special note about how important she was to the Fallon family. 

The 51-year-old comedian penned, “She was the last name we signed on every birthday card.” Fallon, who is married to actor and producer Nancy Juvonen, 58, revealed that Gary was not only their pet dog but also the couple’s “first baby.” In addition to that, she was a constant in the lives of their daughters, Frances, 10, and Winnie, 12, acting as a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl, and a rebel, the post’s caption read. While Gary was many things, she was not a watchdog, Fallon admitted. “She would have let burglars in and shown them where we kept the bacon and American cheese slices.”  

The truly friendly nature of his dog is what inspired Fallon the most. He said Gary would always enjoy a good scratch and lean onto people she liked. She also had a notorious side, though. “She would jump into the pool immediately after being shampooed and dried (noooooo!), then she’d do her laps (backstroke—just kidding doggie paddle), then lie in the grass on her back doing bunny kicks with her tongue sticking out,” the host described. For him, summer was all about spending leisure time with Gary and enjoying life. After 13 and a half years of true companionship, Fallon found himself struggling in his beloved dog’s absence. “The house misses you. The house is so quiet. The quiet is so loud. But that quiet is slowly being filled with stories about you and laughter amongst the sniffles,” he expressed. 

The carousel of photos depicted how deeply loved Gary was. The pictures included snaps of golden beaches, posing with the family adorned in flower tiaras, from the time when Gary was just a sweet puppy, and another beside her dog father, Fallon. The post was acknowledged by several of his celebrity friends, like Courteney Cox, Liza Koshy, Abby Lee Miller, and Michelle Pfeiffer, among others. Fallon and Gary go way back. In a separate interview with PEOPLE, the show host recounted the first time he met his dog and how she became one of the most important souls in his life. “She came out on [Late Night with Jimmy Fallon] to do a bit. I think she was a political pundit. I was having a debate with her, and she was dressed in a suit,” he said in 2017. 

She was just a puppy then, of course. But it did not stop her from impressing Fallon with her charm. Fallon revealed he and his wife were trying to have kids at the time, and taking Gary was the best distraction. Gary was playing the role of a political pundit named Gary Frick Jr., so Fallon decided to keep that name for his girl dog. 

You can follow @jimmyfallon on Instagram for more updates.