Robert Thurman, the respected Buddhist scholar and father of actress Uma Thurman, has passed away at the age of 84

The news came from Tibet House US, the cultural organization he helped establish, which shared the sad update on social media. They described him as a prominent American Buddhist scholar whose teachings touched so many lives. He died on Tuesday morning, June 16, in Woodstock, New York.

The statement included the powerful Tibetan Buddhism mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum,” which speaks to compassion and is often translated as “the jewel in the lotus.” The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time.

Friends and admirers quickly offered their thoughts online. One meditation teacher called him a giant who built a meaningful bridge between Tibetan wisdom and the modern world. Another longtime student expressed deep gratitude, saying his teacher would live on in their hearts.

Robert Thurman spent three decades as the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. He earned high praise over the years, with The New York Times naming him the top American expert on Tibetan Buddhism and TIME magazine including him among the 25 most influential Americans back in 1997.

Beyond academia, he co-founded Tibet House US to help preserve and share Tibetan culture. In his own words, he credited the Tibetan people and the Dalai Lama for bringing sanity and purpose to his life. He often spoke about how Tibetan traditions embodied values like nonviolence, altruism, and education in a way that felt truly special.

He was married to Uma’s mother, Nena Thurman, since 1967. Together they raised four children: Uma, Ganden, Dechen, and Mipam. Robert also had a daughter, Taya, from an earlier marriage to Christophe de Menil.

His legacy stretches far beyond his family. Through his books, translations, and teaching, he introduced countless people to Buddhist thought while staying grounded in real life and human connections, including his pride in his daughter’s accomplishments. He will be remembered as someone who lived his principles with depth, humor, and genuine warmth.