The Kessler twins, iconic entertainers who rose to prominence in postwar Europe during the 1950s and 1960s, have died together through assisted suicide.
Alice and Ellen Kessler passed away at the age of 89 on Monday at their home in Grünwald, near Munich, Germany. According to the German newspaper Bild, the sisters made a conscious and mutual decision to end their lives together, stating that they “no longer wanted to live.”
The identical twins were assisted by the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS), an advocacy organization that provides access to legal and medical support for individuals seeking assisted dying. CNN reported that the sisters contacted the organization more than a year ago and formally became members after careful consideration.
“The decisive factor was likely their wish to die together on a specific date,” DGHS spokesperson Wega Wetzel told CNN. She emphasized that the twins’ decision was neither impulsive nor the result of a psychiatric crisis. Instead, it was described as a long-standing, well-considered choice made freely and without external pressure.
In a 2024 interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, Alice and Ellen openly discussed their desire to leave the world together. “The idea that one of the two would go first is very difficult to bear,” they said, underscoring the deep bond that defined both their personal and professional lives.
Assisted dying has been legal in Germany since a 2020 court ruling established an individual’s right to end their life and seek assistance from a third party, provided the decision is voluntary and autonomous. In a statement shared with NBC News, the DGHS explained that individuals pursuing this option must demonstrate mental clarity and consistency over time. The twins reportedly underwent preliminary discussions with both a lawyer and a physician as part of the process.
Local police confirmed to CNN that authorities responded to the twins’ residence on Monday but ruled out any suspicion of foul play.
Earlier this year, the sisters told Bild that they wished for their ashes to be placed in the same urn. They are expected to be buried alongside their mother, Elsa, and their beloved dog, Yello—another reflection of their lifelong inseparability.
Born in 1936 in Nazi Germany, Alice and Ellen experienced early upheaval when their family fled East Germany for West Germany in 1952. Trained in ballet from a young age, the twins quickly transformed discipline into stardom. Their breakthrough came at the famed Lido cabaret in Paris, launching an international career that would span decades.
They became household names across Europe, especially in Italy, where they starred on the popular variety show Studio Uno and earned the nickname “the legs of the nation.” In 1959, they represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest and made television history as the first female performers to prominently showcase their legs on screen—an act that symbolized a new era of glamour and artistic freedom.
Their success extended to the United States, where they appeared on legendary programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show and The Dean Martin Show. Over the years, they shared stages with some of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, including Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Elvis Presley, and Harry Belafonte.
Following their deaths, tributes poured in from across the entertainment world. The Ed Sullivan Show wrote on Instagram: “Honoring the extraordinary lives of the Kessler Twins. Alice & Ellen were dazzling stars, true legends, and sisters whose grace, charm, and magic will shine forever.”
Radio Monte Carlo also paid homage, describing the twins as an enduring symbol of European spectacle. “Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable,” the tribute read. “They embodied elegance, music, dance, and television for generations.”
In life and in death, the Kessler twins remained united—two performers whose shared journey left an indelible mark on international entertainment history.
