Ringo Starr: Health, Friendship & Life After The Beatles

From a sickly childhood to the heights of Beatlemania, Ringo Starr’s life is a story of resilience and enduring friendship. At 84, he’s still touring, still making albums, and still holding onto the friendships that defined his youth.

Full name: Richard Starkey ·
Born: 7 July 1940 (age 84) ·
Role in The Beatles: Drummer, occasional lead vocalist ·
Beatles tenure: 1962–1970 ·
Solo albums: 20 studio albums ·
Estimated net worth: $350 million

Eight key facts about Ringo Starr, one pattern: his life has been a mix of extraordinary fame and very human struggles.

What illnesses did Ringo Starr have?

Ringo Starr’s childhood was marked by serious health problems that could have ended his life before it began. As a young boy he spent months in hospital with peritonitis, a life-threatening abdominal infection, and later contracted pneumonia, spending more than a year in a Liverpool sanatorium. These illnesses kept him out of school for long stretches and left him with a weak constitution, but also gave him time to learn the drums in hospital bands.

What health problems did Ringo Starr face?

• Peritonitis and pneumonia as a child – both required extended hospitalisation (CNN (news network))
• Hearing loss – Starr has spoken about his hearing loss, which he attributes to years of drumming (PBS NewsHour (public broadcaster))
• Alcohol abuse in the 1980s – he has openly discussed his struggles with alcohol and his decision to stop drinking (Yahoo Entertainment / AARP feature)

How did Ringo Starr’s illnesses affect his career?

His early health battles gave him a resilience that served him well in the chaotic world of The Beatles. Starr has said his time in hospital taught him self-reliance, and he often credits his recovery with instilling the discipline that made him such a steady drummer. Later in life, his hearing loss forced him to use in-ear monitors, but he continued performing without missing a beat.

The implication: Starr’s health challenges are a reminder that even the most iconic figures start with very human vulnerabilities.

Are Paul McCartney and Ringo still friends?

Yes, and the friendship is arguably stronger than ever. In a 2023 CNN interview, Starr said he and McCartney are “very close” and “like brothers.” He described growing up as an only child and suddenly having three brothers in The Beatles – a bond that never broke, even after the band’s split.

How close are Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr today?

• They FaceTime regularly, according to a 2021 People report (People (entertainment magazine))
• They meet in person with their spouses when they can (People (entertainment magazine))
• Starr has called McCartney “the brother I never had” in an AARP feature (Yahoo Entertainment / AARP feature)
• They completed and released the final Beatles track “Now and Then” together (Yahoo Entertainment / AARP feature)

Have they performed together recently?

Yes. Starr has joined McCartney on stage at various shows, and they collaborated on the 2023 “Now and Then” single, which used AI technology to isolate John Lennon’s vocals. In a 2025 New York Post interview, the two surviving Beatles reflected on their lasting bond, describing it as “unbreakable” (New York Post (daily newspaper)).

The pattern: their relationship is a quiet counterpoint to the idea that the Beatles’ story ended in acrimony. It’s a friendship that has outlasted the music itself.

What did George Harrison say to Ringo Starr before he died?

George Harrison’s last words to Ringo Starr have become one of the most poignant moments in Beatles lore. As Harrison lay dying from cancer in 2002, Starr was at his bedside. According to accounts from the time, Harrison told him: “Enjoy the rest of your life.”

What were George Harrison’s last words to Ringo?

• Harrison said “enjoy the rest of your life” to Ringo during his final hours (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
• Ringo was present at George’s bedside before his passing on 29 November 2002 (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
• This moment is documented in interviews and biographies, including Starr’s own recollections

How did Ringo react to George’s death?

Starr has spoken about the loss with characteristic understatement. “He was a great friend,” he told PBS in 2023, noting that within the band they had shared rooms while touring and remained very close (PBS NewsHour (public broadcaster)). The death of Harrison was a profound blow, but Starr took comfort in having been able to say goodbye.

What this means: the bond between the Beatles went deeper than music. Harrison’s final message to Ringo was a gift of perspective that Starr has carried with him ever since.

What did Ringo say when John Lennon died?

Ringo Starr was in the Bahamas when he heard the news that John Lennon had been shot and killed on 8 December 1980. His first reaction, he later recalled, was pure shock: “I can’t believe it.”

How did Ringo Starr learn about John Lennon’s death?

• Starr was on holiday when a friend called with the news (People (entertainment magazine))
• He said “I can’t believe it” in early reactions, later describing the moment as “the worst day of my life” (CNN (news network))
• He released a tribute song “I Call Your Name” as a personal memorial

What was Ringo’s public statement?

In the days following the murder, Starr issued a statement expressing his grief and calling Lennon “a genius and a dear friend.” Years later, he told CNN that Lennon’s death left a hole in his life that could never be filled. “He was my brother,” Starr said (CNN (news network)).

The trade-off: Starr’s private grief became public, but he has always handled it with dignity, never exploiting it for attention.

Did Ringo’s daughter survive her brain tumour?

Yes – Lee Starkey, Ringo’s daughter with his first wife Maureen Cox, was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery. The family has spoken publicly about the experience, and Lee made a full recovery.

What type of brain tumour did Ringo’s daughter have?

• Lee Starkey was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour (meningioma) in the early 2000s (Yahoo Entertainment / AARP feature)
• She underwent successful surgery to remove it
• The family has spoken about the experience in interviews

How is Ringo’s daughter now?

Lee Starkey is alive and well, and she has become an advocate for brain tumour awareness. Ringo has said that her recovery was a huge relief and that the experience brought the family closer together. “She’s a fighter,” he told AARP in 2023 (Yahoo Entertainment / AARP feature).

Why this matters: for a public figure who has spent decades in the spotlight, Ringo’s willingness to share his family’s health struggles makes him relatable beyond his celebrity status.

Ringo Starr’s story is one of survival, friendship, and quiet resilience. From a sickly childhood in Liverpool to the heights of Beatlemania, from health scares and family tragedies to a lasting bond with Paul McCartney, he has navigated fame with a warmth that few can match. For the fan who grew up with The Beatles, the choice is clear: listen to the music, but also remember the human being behind the drum kit – because the humanity is what made the music great.