Actress Bijou Phillips Seeks Second Kidney Transplant

The 'Almost Famous' star is back on dialysis and searching for a living donor after complications from a previous transplant.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Actress Bijou Phillips, 45, is asking the public for help as she searches for a living kidney donor. Phillips shared a plea from her hospital bed, writing that she is back on dialysis and needs a transplant as soon as possible. Phillips is best known for her work in film and television in the late 1990s and 2000s, including roles in 'Almost Famous,' 'Bully,' and 'Raising Hope.' She was born with underdeveloped kidneys and previously received a kidney transplant in 2017, but has faced complications since then.

Why it matters

Kidney transplants can be life-saving procedures, but finding compatible donors can be extremely challenging. Phillips' public plea highlights the ongoing need for organ donors and the difficulties that some patients face in securing a transplant, especially those with rare or complex medical conditions.

The details

Phillips said she experienced both cellular and antibody rejection after her previous transplant in 2017, which she said gave her '8 precious years' with her daughter. She is currently under the care of Dr. Anjay Rastogi at UCLA and is urging anyone interested in donation to apply through a link in her bio, as 'time is of the essence'.

  • Phillips received her first kidney transplant in 2017.
  • Phillips said the 2017 transplant gave her '8 precious years' with her daughter.
  • Phillips is now back on dialysis and seeking a second kidney transplant.

The players

Bijou Phillips

A 45-year-old actress known for her roles in films like 'Almost Famous,' 'Bully,' and 'Raising Hope.' She was born with underdeveloped kidneys and is currently in need of a second kidney transplant.

Dr. Anjay Rastogi

The UCLA physician currently overseeing Phillips' care as she seeks a new kidney donor.

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What they’re saying

“I need help finding a kidney. I'm asking as a friend, a sister, an aunt, and most important, a single mother to an incredible and brave daughter.”

— Bijou Phillips, Actress (Instagram)

“Time is of the essence.”

— Bijou Phillips, Actress (Instagram)

What’s next

Phillips is urging anyone interested in donating a kidney to apply through a link in her Instagram bio as soon as possible.

The takeaway

Bijou Phillips' public plea for a kidney donor highlights the ongoing challenges that some patients face in securing life-saving organ transplants, especially those with rare or complex medical conditions. Her story underscores the critical need for more organ donors to come forward and help those in urgent need.