Jesse Eisenberg to Donate Kidney to Stranger in Six Weeks

Jesse Eisenberg has revealed that he has been bitten by the altruistic bug and will be donating his kidney to a stranger.

The 42-year-old Oscar nominated actor has routinely donated blood over the years and has now stepped up his charitable side even more as he will be donating one of his kidneys to a stranger.

He appeared on the TODAY show on Thursday morning as he said: ‘I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am.’

Eisenberg was then asked why he would make such a bold but selfless decision and he did not really have an answer.

The star – who is best known for playing Mark Zuckerberg in Oscar-winning 2010 film The Social Network – replied: ‘I don’t know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug. I’m doing an altruistic donation (in) mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.’ 

According to RWJ Barnabas Health, an altruistic donation is when a person donates a kidney to a person with advanced kidney disease whom he or she does not know. 

These certain individuals are identified as non-directed kidney donors because it is not a kidney for a specific family member, friend, or someone they know personally who is need of a kidney.

No doubt this selfless act comes at a good time as there is currently an organ donor shortage in the US with about 90,000 on the transplant list who are waiting for a kidney alone according to the Health Resources and Services Administration as of September 2024. 

Eisenberg detailed to TODAY.com why he believes that others should consider making the same decision that he has as he said: ‘It’s essentially risk-free and so needed.

‘I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.’

The talented actor certainly has done his research on the matter as he described the process and how it will greatly benefit someone who needs it.

Eisenberg explained: ‘Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, (and) their child or whoever was going to donate to them is, for whatever set of reasons, not a match, but somehow I am.

‘That person can still get my kidney and hopefully that child of that person still donates their kidney, right? But it goes to a bank where that person can find a match recipient, but it only works if there is basically an altruistic donor.’

He also told the site that the though of donating popped in his head about a decade ago and he contacted an organization but never received a response.

Then the idea got back in his head recently while spending time with a friend who is a doctor who directed him to NYU Langone Health in New York City as an option.

Eisenberg explained to TODAY.com: ‘I was in the hospital the next day and went through a battery of tests, and I’m now scheduled in mid-December.’

As many people who are in the process of donating their kidneys will no doubt be worried if an issue arises where someone in their family would need one, Eisenberg revealed a solution.

He said: ‘The way it works now is you can put a list of whoever you would like to be the first to be at the top of the list.’

The star is referring to the National Kidney Foundation’s family voucher program and said that he has put his family members on his list so they will have priority for a living kidney donation should they ever need one.

Eisenberg said: ‘So it’s risk-free for my family, as well.’ 

His next project completes the trilogy of the Now You See Me heist film franchise as he will reunite with Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, and Morgan Freeman.

 Now You See Me: Now You Don’t is set for release on November 14.