The Thurman family is mourning a loss.
Uma Thurman’s father, Robert Thurman, a leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, passed away on June 16th at the age of 84, according to Tibet House US.
With great sadness, the organization announced on Instagram on June 16th the passing of Robert A.F. Thurman, a well-known American Buddhist scholar. He was a co-founder of Tibet House US and a celebrated author and translator whose teachings had a profound impact on many people’s lives.
Tibet House US, co-founded by Thurman in 1987 at the Dalai Lama’s request, has asked people online to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.
Uma Thurman’s father, Robert Thurman, 56, has six children: Gandem, 58, Dechen, 53, Mipam, 48, with his wife Nena Thurman, and Taya, 66, with his former wife, Christophe de Menil. He first became interested in Tibetan Buddhism while studying at Harvard University, as noted on his website.
In 1962, a trip to Asia and an encounter with the Dalai Lama led him to become a monk – the first from the West to be ordained by the spiritual leader. However, he gave up his monastic vows – which included a commitment to celibacy – after five years so he could marry Nena.
He finished his doctorate in Sanskrit and Indian Studies at Harvard before spending thirty years as a professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism at Columbia University.
Thurman was dedicated to education, but he also wholeheartedly supported his children in pursuing their own paths, including Uma’s thriving career as an actress.
He once explained to Spirituality & Practice that despite his flaws and complexities, he doesn’t believe there’s a conflict between striving for Buddhist principles, exploring topics like the mind, reality, and history – even teaching them – and enjoying friendships with people, regardless of their fame.
He shared that having a daughter as wonderful as Uma feels like a blessing, and they couldn’t be prouder of her.
Uma Thurman, known for her role in Pulp Fiction, appreciated growing up even though her parents had different viewpoints. She has three children: Maya Hawke and Levon Hawke with ex-husband Ethan Hawke, and Luna Thurman-Busson with ex Arpad Busson.
She clarified to the Irish Examiner in April 2005 that stories about her childhood being overly unconventional are untrue. She also pointed out the false assumption that being Buddhist automatically means someone is a radical, eccentric person – something she called nonsense.
Uma explained that she grew up in housing provided by the university, as her father was a professor. She described it as a very typical childhood.
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2026-06-17 17:28