Bijou Phillips Fights for Kidney Transplant as Health Declines

The actress and model is 'hanging on by a thread' as she continues her urgent search for a kidney donor.

Feb. 27, 2026 at 6:05pm

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Bijou Phillips, 45, is desperately searching for a kidney donor as her health declines. The 'Almost Famous' star, who was born with underdeveloped kidneys, received a kidney transplant in 2017 but is now back on dialysis as that kidney is failing. Phillips, a single mother to 12-year-old daughter Fianna, is 'hanging on by a thread' and says her situation is 'extremely urgent.' She is 'fighting' to stay alive for her daughter and has taken to social media to ask for help finding a donor.

Why it matters

Phillips' kidney issues highlight the ongoing challenges many people with organ failure face in finding suitable donors. Her story also sheds light on the difficult realities of being a single parent while battling a serious health condition. The search for a kidney donor has taken on added urgency as Phillips' condition has worsened.

The details

Phillips was born with underdeveloped kidneys and received her first kidney transplant from a friend in 2017. However, the medication she has taken since the transplant has been 'toxic' to her kidneys, and the transplanted kidney is now failing. Phillips is currently receiving dialysis at UCLA Health and says she could 'get an infection in my line tomorrow and be gone in a few days.' She is desperate to find a new kidney donor in order to be there for her 12-year-old daughter, Fianna.

  • Phillips received her first kidney transplant in 2017.
  • Phillips filed for divorce from her ex-husband Danny Masterson in September 2023.
  • On February 11, 2026, Phillips was hospitalized at CORE Kidney at UCLA Health to receive dialysis.

The players

Bijou Phillips

A 45-year-old actress and model who was born with underdeveloped kidneys and is currently searching for a kidney donor.

Fianna

Phillips' 12-year-old daughter, whom she is fighting to stay alive for.

Danny Masterson

Phillips' ex-husband, who was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2023.

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What they’re saying

“I've needed a transplant for a year. I'm sort of hanging on by a thread.”

— Bijou Phillips (Us Weekly)

“I'm really hopeful, [but] it's an extremely urgent situation.”

— Bijou Phillips (Us Weekly)

“Now I'm a single mom, and things are different. I want to be here for her, and I have to be here for her.”

— Bijou Phillips (Us Weekly)

What’s next

Phillips and her loved ones are said to be 'optimistic' about finding a kidney match in the next 'couple of months'.

The takeaway

Phillips' story highlights the ongoing need for organ donors and the challenges faced by those with chronic kidney disease. Her determination to be there for her daughter despite her health struggles is inspiring, and her search for a donor has taken on added urgency as her condition worsens.