By Peter Omopo
Munich, Germany — Alice and Ellen Kessler, the celebrated German twin entertainers who captivated audiences across Europe and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, have died at the age of 89 through a joint assisted suicide, the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS) announced on Tuesday.
Police in Grünwald, the upscale Munich suburb where the sisters lived, confirmed a response to an incident on Monday afternoon but did not provide further details. DGHS, an organization that supports individuals seeking medically assisted dying, said the twins had contacted them more than a year ago and later became members.
According to DGHS spokesperson Wega Wetzel, the sisters’ decision was deliberate and long-considered.
“Their desire to die was well-considered, long-standing, and free from any psychiatric crisis,” Wetzel said, noting that the twins likely chose to die together on a specific date. She added that the organization was not aware of the individual reasons behind their final decision.
In a 2023 interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, the Kessler twins spoke openly about their wish to depart life together.
“The idea that one of us might go first is very hard to bear,” they said. They also expressed a wish to have their ashes interred together in one urn, alongside their mother and their dog, Yello.
Assisted dying is legal in Germany under certain conditions following a 2020 ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court affirming an individual’s right to end their own life and seek assistance as long as no external pressure is involved.
International Stardom
With their signature blonde coiffed hair, impeccable dance training, and charismatic stage presence, the Kessler twins were among the most recognisable showbiz figures of the postwar entertainment era.
Born in what is now part of Grimma, Saxony, they trained in classical ballet as children before fleeing East Germany in 1952. They began their professional careers at Paris’ famed Lido cabaret, but soon became international stars.
Their achievements included:
- Representing Germany at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest
- Multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show
- A cover feature on Life magazine
- Collaborations and associations with icons such as Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Rock Hudson
“The Ed Sullivan Show” paid tribute in a social media post, describing them as “dazzling stars, true legends… whose grace, charm, and magic will shine forever.”
Italian Legacy
The twins enjoyed enormous success in Italy, where they became the first showgirls to appear on national television. Their performances broke cultural boundaries of the time, earning them the nickname “the legs of the country.”
Their 1976 appearance in the Italian edition of Playboy sold out in just three hours, and they starred in numerous Italian films and theatrical productions. Italian broadcaster RAI has announced extensive coverage in their honor, promising reruns of classic shows featuring the duo.
A Lifetime of Togetherness
Even into their late years, the sisters remained inseparable. They lived in mirrored, adjoining apartments and met daily for lunch at noon. Their bond, they often emphasized, extended far beyond their professional partnership.
Grimma’s mayor, Tino Kießig, said in a statement that the town “mourns the loss of these extraordinary daughters,” calling them cultural ambassadors who brought international recognition to their birthplace.
