Hollywood actor Jesse Eisenberg is taking generosity to a whole new level. The 42-year-old Now You See Me and The Social Network star announced on NBC’s Today show that he’s donating a kidney to a complete stranger next month — and he couldn’t be more excited about it.

“I’m doing an altruistic donation,” Eisenberg said with a smile. “It’s essentially risk-free and so needed. I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer if you have the time and the inclination.”

Eisenberg said the decision to donate wasn’t something spontaneous. It’s an idea he’s carried in his heart for nearly a decade, ever since he began donating blood. The thought of giving more — literally a part of himself — stayed with him, even though his first attempt to start the process years ago didn’t go anywhere.

Recently, a conversation with a doctor friend reignited the idea. She encouraged him to contact NYU Langone Health in New York City, where he could begin the process. “I was in the hospital the next day and went through a battery of tests,” Eisenberg recalled.

The actor explained the kidney donation process in simple terms, emphasizing how one selfless act can trigger a chain of life-saving generosity. “Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, and their child or whoever was going to donate to them is not a match, but somehow I am,” he said. “That person can still get my kidney and, hopefully, that child of that person still donates their kidney, right? 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.”

Eisenberg, who describes himself as a secular Jew, said he doesn’t fully understand what motivates him to give so freely, but that he “really likes doing it.” His calm joy about the process surprised even the interviewers, who praised his decision as a rare example of true selflessness in an often self-focused world.

While Eisenberg may not describe his motivation in spiritual terms, his story echoes a timeless biblical truth about generosity and compassion — giving without expecting anything in return. In a season where many people are focused on what they can receive, the actor’s act of kindness serves as a reminder that giving can be the most meaningful gift of all.

As Eisenberg prepares for surgery in December, his outlook remains joyful and determined. “I’m so excited to do it,” he said. “It just feels like the right thing.”