Meet Uma Thurman’s famous parents including stunning model mother

Nena, who is Swedish-German, was born to parents Friedrich Karl Johannes von Schlebrügge and Birgit Holmquist in Mexico City, but traveled often. When she was just 14, Nena was discovered by acclaimed Vogue photographer Norman Parkinson while he was in Stockholm.

Two years later, in 1957, Nena moved to London to pursue her career in modeling and immediately found success. She signed with Ford Modeling in New York and continued her career as a top model.

Robert was born in New York City to stage actress Elizabeth Dean and UN translator Beverly Reid Thurman. His brother, John, is a professional concert cellist.

Inspired by his family, Robert attended Harvard both for his undergraduate and graduate studies. In 1972, he completed his Ph.D. in Sanskrit.

In 1960, Robert married Marie-Christophe de Menil, the heiress to the Sclumberger Limited oil fortune. The couple welcomed daughter Taya Thurman in 1961, the same year they divorced.

Nena married the American psychologist and author Timothy Leary in 1964. Their wedding, which was held at the Hitchcock Estate, was documented by filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker in his short film, You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You. And, the jazz musician Charlie Mingus played piano at the ceremony. But, just a year into their marriage, Nena and Timothy split.

Nena and Robert tied the knot in 1967 after meeting at Millbrook, a New York estate given to Nena’s ex-husband, Timothy. At the time of their meeting, Nena was about to sign divorce papers.

“Life is full of serendipitous happenings,” Nena told The New York Times about their meeting. “It’s like a skateboard is hovering just outside your door. You can close the door, or you can jump on and take the ride.”

The same year they wed, the couple welcomed their first child together, Ganded. In 1970, Nena gave birth to Uma, with their sons Dechen and Mipan arriving in 1973 and 1978. Nena and Robert raised their children in Woodstock, in a house they built themselves.

Over five decades later, the couple are still together, living in their Woodstock home they lovingly call Punya House, meaning “merit” in Sanskrit.

In 1961, Robert lost his left eye during a race car accident, and inspired him to live his life completely differently. He divorced his first wife and traveled for five years in Turkey, Iran, and India.

During his travels, Robert’s dad passed away. While home for the funeral, he met with a Buddhist monk from Mongolia and soon after became a Buddhist. Robert traveled back to India and studied with Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. He became the first American Buddhist monk of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as well as close friends with the Dalai Lama.

But, in 1967, he renounced his monk status, which required celibacy, so that he could marry Nena. While he is no longer a monk, Robert is still deeply tied to Buddhism. In 1986, he and Nena, along with actor Richard Gere, created the Tibet House, a nonprofit organization working to preserve Tibetan Culture.