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The Oscar-nominated actor shared the news of his upcoming altruistic kidney donation on NBC’s “Today” show.
NEW YORK — Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg announced Thursday that he plans to donate one of his kidneys to a stranger in what medical professionals call an altruistic donation.
The 42-year-old Eisenberg, known for his roles in “The Social Network” and the “Now You See Me” franchise, revealed the news during an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, stating the procedure is scheduled for mid-December.
“I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks,” Eisenberg said. “I really am.”
The announcement came as co-anchor Craig Melvin was discussing Eisenberg’s history of blood donation, including his participation in a “Today” show blood drive in July.
“I don’t know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug,” Eisenberg said. “I’m doing an altruistic donation (in) mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.”
An altruistic kidney donation occurs when someone donates a kidney to a person with advanced kidney disease they do not personally know. These donors are called non-directed kidney donors because the organ is not going to a specific family member, friend or acquaintance.
In an interview with TODAY.com, Eisenberg described the decision as “essentially risk-free and so needed,” adding, “I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.”
Eisenberg explained that he first considered kidney donation about 10 years ago and contacted an organization but never received a response. He recently discussed his desire to donate with a doctor friend, who directed him to NYU Langone Health in New York City.
The actor also said he enrolled his family members in a program that would prioritize them for living kidney donations should they need one in the future. “So it’s risk-free for my family, as well,” he said.
About 90,000 people were on the transplant list waiting for a kidney as of September 2024, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.
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