Meet Phil Collins’ Five Children: From Actors and Musicians to a Professional Footballer

Phil Collins may be known around the world as the voice and drummer behind some of pop and rock’s most enduring music, but away from the stage, he is also the father of five children.

Between 1975 and 2005, the former Genesis star welcomed three sons and two daughters across three marriages. His children have since followed remarkably different paths, building careers in acting, film production, music and professional football.

Collins shares Joely and Simon with his first wife, Andrea Bertorelli, whom he was married to from 1975 until 1979. His daughter Lily was born during his second marriage to actress Jill Tavelman, which ended in 1994. He later welcomed Nicholas and Mathew with his third wife, Orianne Cevey. Collins and Cevey were married from 2000 to 2006, reconciled a decade later and separated again in 2020.

Despite the complexities of his personal life, Collins has remained connected to his children. That bond was especially apparent after he became unconscious in a Swiss hospital because of heavy alcohol use in April 2024. Collins told The Sunday Times in August 2026 that his manager contacted all five children and called them to his bedside.

Here is a closer look at Phil Collins’ five children and the lives they have built for themselves.

Joely Collins, 53

Born on August 8, 1972, Joely Collins is the eldest of the five siblings. She is Andrea Bertorelli’s daughter and joined Collins’ family through adoption.

Raised in Canada, Joely established herself as both an actress and producer. Her television credits include Canadian series Madison and Cold Squad, while in 2009 she founded StoryLab Productions. Three years later, she produced the feature film Becoming Redwood.

Joely also played an important role in encouraging her father to reconsider his first retirement from music in 2011.

Collins later told The New York Times that his daughter warned him about walking away from something that had been such a fundamental part of his life since he was 19.

“To stop doing what you’ve done all your life,” Collins recalled her telling him, “You’re taking away something that makes you tick.”

Her words stayed with him and helped influence his eventual decision to perform again.

Joely is married to Stefan Buitelaar and they share a daughter, Zoë Amelie. Speaking to Canadian outlet Urban Moms about motherhood, she described being a mother as “the most rewarding job” she could have.

In April 2026, she publicly celebrated another milestone in her father’s career, congratulating him on his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and writing that she was “so incredibly proud.”

Simon Collins, 49

Phil’s son Simon was born in London on September 14, 1976, and inherited his father’s passion for music.

His interest in drumming began early. Phil gave him a drum kit for his eighth birthday, and Simon grew up around Genesis, even accompanying the band on tour.

“Genesis had a deep impact on my life,” Simon told Hot Press, recalling how being surrounded by accomplished musicians helped develop his interest in progressive rock.

His father introduced him to music from artists including Pink Floyd and other progressive-rock acts, but Simon was determined to establish an identity of his own.

He eventually pursued a solo career after signing with Warner Music Group.

Father and son have also performed together. Phil later joined Simon in the studio for “The Big Bang,” a track from Simon’s album U-Catastrophe. Simon told PEOPLE in 2008 that although they had worked on demos and shared stages before, recording together in a studio was something they had never previously done.

Despite members of the Collins family living in different parts of the world, Simon said in 2021 that they remained connected and regularly communicated through Zoom.

Lily Collins, 37

Born on March 18, 1989, Lily Collins is Phil’s daughter with his second wife, actress Jill Tavelman.

Although she grew up with one of music’s most famous surnames, Lily has repeatedly emphasized her desire to build a career independently of her father.

“It was out of the question that people would think that I use a free pass thanks to my name,” she told Vogue France.

Lily said she was proud of her father but wanted to be recognized as herself rather than simply as Phil Collins’ daughter. Although she also enjoys singing, she chose acting partly because she wanted to create a career away from her father’s musical legacy.

Her screen career began remarkably early, with an appearance on the BBC sitcom Growing Pains when she was just 2.

Her breakthrough came years later with the Oscar-nominated film The Blind Side. She subsequently built an increasingly prominent career, earning her first Golden Globe nomination for playing Marla Mabrey in the 2016 comedy Rules Don’t Apply.

Her profile grew further with Netflix’s Emily in Paris. Playing the title character brought Lily another Golden Globe nomination, while the series itself received an Emmy nomination.

Lily is married to filmmaker Charlie McDowell, the son of actors Mary Steenburgen and Malcolm McDowell. In January 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Tove Jane McDowell, via surrogate.

Nicholas “Nic” Collins, 25

Nicholas Collins was born on April 21, 2001, to Phil and his third wife, Orianne Cevey.

Known as Nic, he represents another generation of drummers in the Collins family. Like his father and older half-brother Simon, he became fascinated with the instrument at a very young age, beginning to play when he was 2.

By 2017, at age 17, Nic was performing alongside his father on tour.

Phil made clear at the time that his son had earned his place behind the kit rather than receiving it simply because of their relationship.

“It’s not because he’s the boss’ son that he’s playing the drums, it’s because he’s good enough,” Collins said on Australian program The Project.

Phil also recalled how quickly his touring musicians embraced Nic and expressed his happiness that father and son were able to experience the tour together.

Nic later formed The Effect alongside Steve Maggiora, Emmett Stang and Trev Lukather, the son of Toto guitarist Steve Lukather. He announced his departure from The Effect in 2024 and now performs with Better Strangers.

Speaking to PEOPLE in February 2024, Nic said some of his earliest memories involved watching his father perform on tour every night. Those experiences made a career in music feel almost inevitable.

In July 2026, Nic announced his engagement to Isabella Serralles.

Mathew Collins, 21

Phil’s youngest child, Mathew, was born in 2005 during his relationship with Orianne Cevey.

Unlike his musician father and brothers, Mathew has pursued professional sport.

In August 2026, ESPN reported that the 21-year-old footballer had joined German club 1860 Munich.

The club’s managing director, Thomas Probst, praised Mathew’s early impact, saying he had quickly settled into the squad.

“Mathew has made a very good impression on us,” Probst said. “He integrated into the team very quickly and is an asset to us both on and off the pitch.”

Five Children, Five Very Different Paths

Phil Collins’ five children have taken his family name into very different worlds.

Joely built a career as an actress and producer, Simon and Nic followed their father toward music, Lily became an internationally recognized actress, and Mathew chose professional football.

Their individual careers may be very different, but each represents another chapter in a family story that stretches far beyond Phil Collins’ decades behind the microphone and drum kit.