Denis Leary and his wife, Ann, seem to have a pretty clear system when it comes to household chores, with each of them taking on specific tasks. The actor recently shared the chore he handles when Ann takes over the kitchen, and it’s none other than washing the dishes – and he has a pretty good reason for it.
In an interview with People magazine, Leary opened up about his cooking (or lack thereof) skills. He admitted, “Listen, here’s my thing. I’m a guy who can’t cook.” Growing up in the city, he explained that if he wanted food, he’d either walk down the block or call for delivery. It seems that his culinary skills never quite developed, but Leary found his own niche in the kitchen—washing dishes. He shared that as a kid, he worked as a dishwasher and actually enjoyed the job, saying he was “good” at it.
Now, as a grown-up, Leary sticks to the rule: “If you don’t cook, you clean.” So, whenever Ann cooks, Leary happily takes on the responsibility of washing the dishes. He mentioned that he had done so the night before, reinforcing his stance on the division of labor in their home.
During the same interview, Leary participated in One Last Thing, a fun segment where he answered questions about his recent activities. One of the questions asked about the last time he did something. Leary revealed that just 15 minutes before the interview, he had been singing Elvis Costello’s Alison to warm up his voice before a live gig. He admitted he’s not “great” at singing but definitely has a knack for yelling.
When asked about the last thing he learned about himself, Leary shared a more personal reflection. As he gets older, he’s realized that some things just don’t matter as much anymore. For example, he used to be a huge sports fan, but now losing doesn’t bother him as much. What’s truly important to him now is his family and how they’re doing.
Leary also shared a fun superstition he follows before playing hockey. He always dresses with everything on the left side first—skates, shinpads, you name it. He’s been doing this since he was a kid.
As for the last thing he does before hitting the stage, Leary revealed an amusing backstage moment. The usual person who introduces him wasn’t available, so Leary decided to introduce himself instead, joking it would be an “inside joke.” The crowd picked up on it, and Leary laughed at the idea of the audience wondering, “How big of an ego does this guy have?” But it made everyone smile, and now, it’s become part of his routine.