His father, Isidore Victor Thoen, was an industrialist and owner of a paint factory in the years following World War II.

His grandfather was Johannes Cornelius van Berkel, known as Bercelini, a professional magician, writer, and performer.

Thoen's uncle, Nico van Berkel, known as Niberco, was a Dutch traveling magician who performed on British radio.

In 1950, the Thoen family uprooted and moved to Bogotá, Colombia to start a paint manufacturing business.

Ernest Thoen attended college in Miami, and graduated in Atlanta, where he received a Master of Visual Arts degree in Photography.