Jesse Eisenberg has disclosed that he is set to donate one of his kidneys to a stranger next month. In a recent interview, Eisenberg shared his excitement about the upcoming procedure, though he admitted that his driving force remained somewhat unclear.
“I’m not entirely sure why,” he said. “I developed a passion for blood donation. I’m doing an altruistic donation [in] mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.”
A Long-Held Idea
Eisenberg added that he first considered living organ donation around a decade ago, but only recently initiated the donation process. “It’s essentially risk-free and so needed,” he emphasized. “I think people will realise that it’s a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.”
How the Matching Process Works
He further detailed the compatibility process for donors and recipients. “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. The recipient can receive my kidney, and ideally, their relative donates to another person in return, correct?
“But it goes to a bank where that person can find a match recipient, but it only works if there is basically an altruistic donor.”
Celebrity Organ Donations
Living celebrity organ donors are quite rare, with notable posthumous donors including Natasha Richardson, Jerry Orbach, and Dr Rajkumar. Back in 2017, singer and actress Selena Gomez received a kidney from her close friend, Francia Raisa. Tracy Morgan, George Lopez, Neil Simon and Tina Turner also received donor kidneys.
The Critical Need for Donors
More than 100,000 people are currently on the transplant list in the US, with around 12 people dying each day because of organ shortage. In the United Kingdom, a record 8,186 people are on the waiting list, with a further almost 4,000 temporarily suspended but still in need of a transplant. At the same time, donor figures in the UK are declining, with living donors now accounting for around 40% of donations – primarily kidneys.
Personal Influences and Activism
Eisenberg has credited his wife, the teacher and charity worker Anna Strout, for much of his own idealism and activism. Her late mother ran a domestic violence shelter, of which Eisenberg and Strout have been energetic supporters.
Latest Professional Achievements
Earlier this year, Eisenberg was Oscar-nominated for his screenplay for A Real Pain, which earned the best supporting actor award for Kieran Culkin. He is now promoting the third installment of the Now You See Me magical heist series.
Last week Eisenberg said his non-involvement in the sequel to The Social Network had “nothing to do” with the film’s script, penned by Aaron Sorkin, who also wrote the original. Jeremy Strong will assume the role of Mark Zuckerberg in the new film.
