Jesse Eisenberg has announced that he plans to donate one of his kidneys to a complete stranger later this year.
The Oscar-nominated actor shared details about his selfless decision while promoting his latest film, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, during an appearance on the Today show Thursday morning.
Eisenberg explained that the idea first came to him after taking part in a
Jesse Eisenberg revealed that he is preparing to donate one of his kidneys while promoting his latest film, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, during an appearance on the Today show on October 30, 2025.
Eisenberg began by talking about a blood drive he took part in over the summer that was sponsored by NBC’s Today show.
“I just have so much blood in me, and I feel like I should spill it,” he joked. “I really like doing it, and I don’t know why.”
Then the Real Pain star shared some surprising news: “I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am,” said Eisenberg, 42.
When host Craig Melvin called the gesture “amazing” and “a big jump” from giving blood, Eisenberg confirmed that the procedure is scheduled to take place in less than two months.
Eisenberg attends an event at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on March 2, 2025.
Eisenberg revealed that he is scheduled to donate his kidney to a complete stranger in mid-December.
“I got, like, bitten by the blood donation bug. I love it,” he said. “I’m doing an altruistic donation in mid-December.”
An altruistic donation — also known as a non-directed living donation — occurs when someone donates an organ to a stranger, according to Weill Cornell Medicine. In these cases, the recipient is chosen based on medical compatibility.
Eisenberg discussed his upcoming kidney donation further in a separate interview with Today.com published on Thursday.
Eisenberg was photographed at the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles, California, on March 1, 2025.
Eisenberg at the Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California, on February 22, 2025.“It’s essentially risk-free and so needed,” he told the outlet. “I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.”
The Zombieland star went on to explain how the donation process works.
“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,” he began.
Eisenberg before taping The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on October 29, 2025.
“That person can still get my kidney, and hopefully that child of that person will still donate their kidney, right?” Eisenberg explained. “But it goes to a bank where that person can find a match recipient, and it only works if there is an altruistic donor.”
Although the Social Network star said he first considered donating about 10 years ago, it wasn’t until recently that he had the opportunity to follow through.
“I was in the hospital the next day and went through a battery of tests, and I’m now scheduled in mid-December,” he shared.
Eisenberg at the opening night of Operation Mincemeat at the Golden Theatre in New York City on March 20, 2025.
Addressing concerns for those hesitant to become altruistic kidney donors because a family member might need a kidney in the future, Eisenberg explained why it wouldn’t be an issue.
“The way it works now is you can put a list of whoever you would like to be at the top of the list,” he said, referring to the National Kidney Registry’s family voucher program. “So it’s risk-free for my family, as well.”
During the same week’s appearance on the Today show, Eisenberg also discussed why he chose not to reprise his role as Mark Zuckerberg from The Social Network for the upcoming sequel, The Social Reckoning.
Eisenberg also explained why he decided not to reprise his role as Mark Zuckerberg for the The Social Reckoning sequel during his appearance on the Today show on October 30, 2025.
Eisenberg explained that he wasn’t returning for The Social Reckoning for “reasons that have nothing to do with how amazing the movie will be.”
After an awkward exchange with host Craig Melvin, the Adventureland star reiterated his stance.
“When you play a character, you feel, you know, at some point you’ve grown into something else,” he said.
“But it’s a really wonderful movie. I’m friends with Aaron Sorkin, who wrote and is directing this movie, and all of the reasons that I am not in it are completely unrelated to how brilliant it will be,” Eisenberg added.
