Jesse Eisenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jesse Eisenberg
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Eisenberg in 2025
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Jesse Adam Eisenberg
October 5, 1983 New York City, U.S.
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| Years active | 1996–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Anna Strout
(m. 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Hallie Eisenberg (sister) |
| Awards | Full list |
Jesse Adam Eisenberg (/ˈaɪzənbɜːrɡ/ eye-ZƏN-burg; born October 5, 1983) is an American actor, filmmaker, and writer. He is known for playing smart, sometimes shy characters in movies and plays. He has won a British Academy Film Award and has been nominated for two Academy Awards.
Eisenberg first appeared on TV in the series Get Real (1999–2000). He then starred in films like Roger Dodger (2002), The Squid and the Whale (2005), and Adventureland (2009). He became widely known for playing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the movie The Social Network (2010). For this role, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.
He also appeared in the films Now You See Me (2013) and its sequel Now You See Me 2 (2016). He voiced Blu in the animated movies Rio (2011) and Rio 2 (2014). In 2016, he played Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In 2022, he directed his first film, When You Finish Saving the World. He also wrote, directed, and starred in A Real Pain (2024), which earned him a BAFTA Award and an Academy Award nomination for his writing.
Eisenberg has written for The New Yorker and McSweeney's. He has also written and acted in three plays for the New York stage. In 2015, he released his first book, Bream Gives Me Hiccups: and Other Stories.
Early Life and Education
Jesse Adam Eisenberg was born in Astoria, Queens in New York City. He grew up in East Brunswick, New Jersey. His mother, Amy, teaches about different cultures in hospitals. She used to be a clown and a high school director. His father, Barry Eisenberg, was a taxi driver and later a college professor.
Jesse has two sisters. Hallie Eisenberg was a child actress known as the "Pepsi Girl" in commercials. His other sister, Kerri, also acted and ran a children's theater group about animal rights.
Eisenberg grew up in a Jewish family. His family came from Poland and Ukraine. He went to public schools in East Brunswick. For his last year of high school, he moved to the Professional Performing Arts School in New York. While there, he got his first big movie role in Roger Dodger. This role kept him from going to New York University. Instead, he studied anthropology at The New School.
Eisenberg found it hard to fit in at school because he felt shy and worried a lot. He started acting in plays when he was young. At seven, he played Oliver Twist in a children's theater show. By 12, he was an understudy in a Broadway play. He said that acting made him feel more comfortable because he had a clear way to behave.
He started writing screenplays at 16. Some of his scripts were bought by big studios. However, he felt he didn't have enough control over his work once it was sold.
Career Highlights
Early Acting Roles (1999–2008)
Eisenberg's first TV role was in Get Real from 1999 to 2000. In 2002, he starred in the independent film Roger Dodger. He won an award for Most Promising New Actor at the San Diego Film Festival for this role. He also appeared in The Emperor's Club that year.
In 2005, he was in the horror film Cursed and the drama The Squid and the Whale. In 2007, he acted with Richard Gere in The Hunting Party. He also filmed Holy Rollers with his sister Hallie in 2008. In this movie, he played a young Jewish man who gets involved in a difficult situation.
In 2009, Eisenberg played the main role in Adventureland with Kristen Stewart. This was the first of many times they worked together.
Becoming a Star (2009–2011)
Eisenberg's first big movie success was the comedy-horror film Zombieland (2009). He starred with Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. The movie was a surprise hit.
In 2010, he played Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. This role brought him many awards and nominations, including for the BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards. The film's director, David Fincher, knew Eisenberg was perfect for the role after seeing his audition.
In January 2011, Eisenberg hosted Saturday Night Live. Mark Zuckerberg himself appeared during the show. Eisenberg said meeting Zuckerberg was "an overwhelming experience."
In 2011, he voiced Blu, a blue macaw, in the animated movie Rio. He sang a song called "Real in Rio" for the film's soundtrack. He also starred in the comedy 30 Minutes or Less. In October 2011, Eisenberg's first play, Asuncion, opened Off-Broadway. He also acted in the play.
Writing and Diverse Roles (2012–2019)
In 2012, Eisenberg starred in Why Stop Now and the romantic comedy To Rome with Love, directed by Woody Allen.
In 2013, he worked with Woody Harrelson again in Now You See Me. He played a magician who uses magic tricks to pull off bank heists. He also debuted his second play, The Revisionist, and starred in the drama The Double.
Eisenberg voiced Blu again in Rio 2 (2014). He reunited with Kristen Stewart in the action comedy American Ultra (2015). In 2015, he played journalist David Lipsky in The End of the Tour. His third play, The Spoils, also premiered Off-Broadway that year. On September 8, 2015, Eisenberg released his first book, Bream Gives Me Hiccups.
In March 2016, Eisenberg played the supervillain Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. His performance received some criticism. He later said that joining this big movie was difficult for his career because of how his role was received.
He then starred in Café Society and returned as J. Daniel Atlas in Now You See Me 2. This sequel was filmed in London and Macau. His play The Spoils also ran in London's West End. Eisenberg appeared as Lex Luthor in a scene for Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).
In 2019, Eisenberg starred in the sequel Zombieland: Double Tap. His new play Happy Talk also premiered that year.
Directing and Recent Work (2020–present)
Eisenberg played Marcel Marceau in the 2020 film Resistance, which was about Marceau's role in the French resistance during World War II.
In 2022, Eisenberg starred as Toby Fleishman in the FX series Fleishman is in Trouble. He also made his debut as a film director with When You Finish Saving the World. This movie starred Julianne Moore and Finn Wolfhard. It premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. That same year, he appeared in the film Manodrome.
In 2024, he directed, wrote, and acted in the comedy-drama A Real Pain with Kieran Culkin. The film received positive reviews and earned him nominations for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for his writing.
Eisenberg's next project is a musical comedy film that he will direct, write, and create music for. It will star Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti.
Personal Life
Eisenberg dated Anna Strout from 2002 to 2012. They met on the set of The Emperor's Club. He later dated Mia Wasikowska from 2013 to 2015. He and Anna Strout got back together and married in 2017. Their son, Banner, was born in April 2017. They live in Bloomington, Indiana, and New York City.
Eisenberg has played the drums since he was eight years old. His favorite band is Ween.
In 2007, Eisenberg started an online wordplay website called OneUpMe with his cousin. Even though he played Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Eisenberg does not use social media. He said in 2016 that he is "terrified of that stuff."
Eisenberg is involved with the Bloomington Playwrights Project and supports the city of Bloomington, Indiana. He is a fan of the Indiana Pacers basketball team. He also supports the Indy Thunder beep baseball team.
Eisenberg has Polish-Jewish family history. His family lived in Poland until World War II. His wife also has Polish roots. In May 2024, he applied for Polish citizenship. He said he wanted to help create better relationships between Jewish and Polish people. He was granted Polish citizenship on March 4, 2025.
Charity Work and Interests
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Eisenberg has worked with the Child Mind Institute for their #MyYoungerSelf project. In a video, he talked about feeling worried and having OCD when he was growing up. Eisenberg loves cats and helps foster animals. He has also worked with Farm Sanctuary, an organization that helps farm animals. He has said he is "like 95% vegetarian."
In September 2015, Eisenberg announced he would match donations to Middle Way House, a shelter for people experiencing domestic violence in Bloomington, Indiana. He matched donations up to $100,000. He told a reporter that the shelter "saved so many lives." By March 2018, Eisenberg had helped raise almost $1 million for the shelter.
Eisenberg is part of Theater of War, a group that performs ancient Greek plays for military and civilian communities. He said this work allows him to do something with "more substance" than just entertainment.
He also performs for Voices of a People's History of the United States. This group uses historical writings to encourage people to get involved in their communities. Eisenberg is also involved with Keep America Beautiful, which helps people improve their local environments.
In September 2016, Eisenberg joined other actors like Cate Blanchett and Keira Knightley in a video for the UNHCR. The video, called "What They Took With Them," aimed to raise awareness about the global refugee crisis.
Eisenberg has also participated in "The 24 Hour Musicals," where artists create new musicals in just 24 hours. He composed music and co-wrote a musical called Shoshana and Her Lovers. The money raised from these events helps support freedom of expression for playwrights.
Acting Credits and Awards
Some of Eisenberg's most praised films include Roger Dodger (2002), The Squid and the Whale (2005), Adventureland (2009), Zombieland (2009), The Social Network (2010), The End of the Tour (2015), and A Real Pain (2024).
Eisenberg has been recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for:
- 83rd Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Actor for The Social Network (2010)
- 97th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Original Screenplay for A Real Pain (2024)
See also
In Spanish: Jesse Eisenberg para niños
