Here is all that is known about Alice and Ellen Kessler, who passed away on Monday (November 17) after making the decision to end their lives simultaneously.
The German newspaper Bild reported that the twins died at the age of 89 in their residence near Munich.
The publication noted that the sisters ‘no longer wanted to live’ and chose to ‘end their lives together’.
Alice and Ellen opted for medically assisted death, a practice that has been permitted in Germany since 2019.
Born on August 20, 1936, the twins developed a passion for dancing early on, starting ballet lessons at six. In 1952, they fled East Germany with their parents, Paul and Elsa Kessler, and began gaining recognition after performing at The Lido in Paris.
During this period, they even encountered Elvis Presley and later performed a duet in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, achieving eighth place for West Germany.
The Kessler twins gained international fame in the 60s through the variety show Studio Uno and were featured on the cover of the Italian edition of Playboy magazine, solidifying their status as entertainment icons. They returned to Germany in 1986.
One of their most notable achievements was collaborating with Frank Sinatra during their illustrious careers.
Local reports indicate that the Kessler twins ended their lives with medical assistance, a legal practice in Germany.
In the case of medically assisted dying, patients themselves administer the prescribed medication to end their lives, rather than having it done by a physician.
This practice is legal provided the individual ‘acts responsibly and of their own free will’, and the assistant must not carry out the act, as that would be classified as euthanasia.
Alice and Ellen expressed to Bild their wish to be interred in the same urn alongside their mother Elsa and their dog Yello.
“We stipulated this in our wills,” Ellen stated in April 2024. “Our life has been characterised by discipline. Now we are approaching the end. We won’t live much longer. So we must approach the end with discipline.
“After us, the deluge’, is not in our nature.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.