Jesse Eisenberg To Donate kidney To Stranger In December
November 11, 2025 — by Transplant News
USA: Actor Jesse Eisenberg has announced he will donate one of his kidneys to a total stranger in December, undertaking a non‑directed living donation that fewer than 5% of kidney donors choose. The planned operation is intended as a kidney transplant from a living donor and is presented by Eisenberg as a deliberate act to move someone off the organ waiting list.
Eisenberg, who has a history of donating blood, described this step as a continuation of that commitment to giving. He characterized the surgical risks as essentially risk‑free and said he is excited to help save a life. He also emphasized that living donors can name family members to receive priority for future transplant placement, a point he raised as a reason more people might consider donating.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of long waits for kidney transplants in the United States. About 90,000 people are currently listed as waiting for a kidney, while only a few thousand living kidney donations occur each year, underscoring a substantial gap between need and supply. Eisenberg’s decision highlights the rarity of non‑directed donations and the continued demand for living donors.
Eisenberg’s public notification places a well‑known figure at the center of a conversation about living kidney transplantation and donor choice. He plans to undergo the procedure in December and has framed the act as the next step after years of blood donation. The story documents a high‑profile individual pursuing a non‑directed kidney donation and reiterates the statistics and options he cited in explaining his choice.
