Jesse Eisenberg to Donate Kidney to Stranger
Actor Jesse Eisenberg revealed yesterday that he is scheduled to donate a kidney to an anonymous recipient in mid-December, a selfless act that could save a life and highlight the critical need for organ donors.
Eisenberg, 42, discussed his upcoming altruistic donation – also known as a non-directed living donation – during an appearance on the “Today” show while promoting his new film, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.” He explained he initially felt compelled to donate after participating in a blood drive sponsored by the program earlier this year. “I just have so much blood in me, and I feel like I should spill it,” he joked, adding, “I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am.”
He further elaborated on the process, explaining how the donation works through a system like the National Kidney Registry. “Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City… I am a match, that person can still get my kidney,” Eisenberg said. He also clarified that a family voucher program exists to prioritize potential recipients within a donor’s family if needed, making the decision “risk-free” for his own relatives. According to Weill Cornell Medicine, altruistic donations are vital to expanding the donor pool and ensuring more patients receive life-saving transplants.
During the same interview, Eisenberg also addressed his decision not to reprise his role as Mark Zuckerberg in the upcoming sequel, “The Social Reckoning,” stating the choice was unrelated to the film’s quality and simply a matter of moving forward with his career. Eisenberg is currently scheduled to undergo the donation procedure in mid-December, and medical professionals will determine the recipient based on compatibility.
