- Their journey took them to the famed Lido cabaret in Paris before they became international sensations
- the Kessler twins admitted they feared the grief of one dying before the other
- the sisters’ decision was deliberate, deeply considered, and made without any psychiatric crisis
Alice and Ellen Kessler, the iconic German twin entertainers who captivated audiences in the 1950s and 60s, have died at the age of 89 through a joint assisted suicide, according to the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS).
Eko Hot Blog reports that local police in Gruenwald, the Munich suburb where the sisters lived, confirmed a deployment to their residence but did not disclose details.
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DGHS revealed that the twins had contacted the organisation more than a year ago, expressing their long-standing wish to end their lives together.
According to DGHS spokesperson Wega Wetzel, the sisters’ decision was deliberate, deeply considered, and made without any psychiatric crisis.
Their desire, she said, centred on leaving the world together on a chosen date—an intention they had openly discussed in previous interviews.
In a 2023 conversation with Corriere della Sera, the Kessler twins admitted they feared the grief of one dying before the other, adding that they preferred to depart the world on the same day.
They also expressed a wish to have their ashes interred in a single urn alongside their mother and their dog.
Germany permits assisted dying under certain conditions, following a 2020 court ruling affirming the right of individuals to end their lives with assistance as long as there is no external pressure.
The Kessler sisters rose to fame with their elegance, blonde coiffed hair, and captivating performances. They began as ballet students before fleeing East Germany in 1952 to pursue dance careers.
Their journey took them to the famed Lido cabaret in Paris before they became international sensations.
They represented Germany at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” graced the cover of Life magazine, and mingled with stars like Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire.
Tributes have since poured in, celebrating them as timeless legends whose artistry shaped an era.
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