During an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, an Oscar-nominated actor shared his decision to make an altruistic kidney donation.
NEW YORK — Jesse Eisenberg, celebrated for his performances in films like “The Social Network” and the “Now You See Me” series, revealed on Thursday his intention to donate a kidney to a stranger. This selfless act is known in the medical community as an altruistic donation.
The 42-year-old actor made the announcement during his guest spot on NBC’s “Today” show, mentioning that the surgery is planned for mid-December.
“I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks,” Eisenberg confirmed. “I really am.”
This revelation came up as co-anchor Craig Melvin highlighted Eisenberg’s history of blood donation, referencing his involvement in a “Today” show blood drive this past July.
“I’m not exactly sure why, but I got hooked on donating blood,” Eisenberg explained. “I’m participating in an altruistic donation mid-December, and I couldn’t be more excited about 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.
