Jesse Eisenberg, known for his role in “Now You See Me,” might soon be doing even more good deeds than the generous, Robin Hood-like characters from the movie.
The Academy Award-nominated actor revealed on Thursday’s “Today” show that he’s donating a kidney to someone he doesn’t know. He shared the news casually while discussing a recent blood drive the show organized with host Craig Melvin.
Contributor: The cavalry saved me, and 18 years later, I was the cavalry — with a kidney donation
My ‘non-directed’ donation, to someone I don’t know, saved one life and then some.
As Melvin and his co-hosts reacted in disbelief, Eisenberg said, “I really am [donating].”
He explained he wasn’t sure why he felt so compelled to donate blood, saying he’d ‘caught the bug.’ He was ‘so excited’ to make a donation where the recipient is a stranger, a type of selfless giving known as nondirected or altruistic donation.
Around 90,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, but only about 6,000 people donate each year. Of those donations, less than 5% are made to people the donor doesn’t know.
Eisenberg believes more people would participate if they understood how safe the process is.
Eisenberg explained to Today.com that the opportunity is practically without risk and incredibly valuable. He believes most people will quickly see it’s an easy decision if they have the time and are interested.
Awards
One character is controlled and anxious, while the other is relaxed and impulsive. This perfectly describes both the plot of ‘A Real Pain’ and the personalities of the actors playing the roles.
The actor, known for being in “The Social Network,” also reassured potential donors that they wouldn’t have to worry about needing a kidney themselves later on, especially if a family member ever needed one urgently.
He explained that the National Kidney Registry’s family voucher program allows people to prioritize who receives a kidney donation. Launched in 2019, this program replaced an older version that required the donor to name a recipient with existing kidney problems. The original voucher option remains available, too.
Dr. Jeff Veale, a key figure in developing the voucher system, explained that this change encourages more people to donate kidneys. It’s also the right thing to do for those who are already making such a generous gift, as it ensures their families will still be covered if they ever need a kidney transplant themselves.
Most kidney donors recover quickly, typically getting back to their normal routines within a few weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The new movie “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” arrives in theaters on November 14th, almost ten years after the last film in the series. Jesse Eisenberg returns, along with Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco, and they’re joined by new cast members Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, and Rosamund Pike.
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2025-11-01 01:01