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Philip David Charles Collins, born January 30, 1951, in West London, has led a life defined by precocious talent and, more recently, a series of significant health challenges. As he approaches his 75th birthday, he remains a figure of great interest and a legend in the music world.
Collins grew up in a household that encouraged creativity. He was the youngest of three children born to Greville Philip Austin Collins, an insurance agent, and Winifred June Collins, a theatrical agent.
Siblings: His older brother, Clive Collins, became a renowned professional cartoonist and was awarded an MBE for his services to art before passing away in 2022. His sister, Carole Collins, pursued a career as a professional ice skater before following their mother into the theatrical agency business.
Early Interests: His musical journey famously began at age five when he received a toy drum kit for Christmas. By age 12, he had a real set.
Child Actor: Before his drumming career took off, Collins was a successful child actor. Most notably, he played the Artful Dodger in the London stage production of Oliver! and had a brief appearance as an extra in The Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night.
In recent interviews, particularly a January 2026 appearance on the BBC’s Eras podcast, Collins has been candid about his "difficult and frustrating" health journey over the last few years.
Collins has revealed that he now requires a 24-hour live-in nurse. He clarified that this is primarily a measure to ensure he manages his various medications correctly following several hospital stays.
His current physical state is the result of several converging health problems:
Nerve and Spinal Damage: Following a spinal injury during a 2007 Genesis tour, Collins suffered extensive nerve damage. This led to "foot drop," which severely limits his mobility and prevents him from playing the drums.
Knee Surgeries: He has undergone five surgeries on his knees. He currently notes that he has only one functioning knee and requires assistance—such as crutches or a wheelchair—to move.
Kidney and Diabetes Issues: Collins has managed Type 2 diabetes for years. He also disclosed that past struggles with alcohol took a toll on his kidneys, leading to a period where they "started to back up" during a hospital stay where he also contracted COVID-19.
Recovery and Sobriety: On a positive note, Collins recently celebrated two years of sobriety. Despite his mobility issues, he has expressed a renewed, albeit cautious, interest in potentially returning to the studio to see if he can still "make something happen."
"Everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me... it’s just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years. But it’s all right now." — Phil Collins, January 2026.
