Warning: this article contains discussion surrounding suicide that some readers may find distressing.
Alice and Ellen Kessler made a significant financial decision prior to their deaths through medical assistance.
The showbiz siblings, known for their interactions with Elvis and performances with Frank Sinatra, passed away on Monday (November 17).
These well-known twins exited life just as they entered it—together.
Originating from Germany, the sisters gained prominence by representing their country in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest and securing the eighth position.
During the early 1960s, they relocated to Italy where they gained immense popularity on the variety show Studio Uno and graced the cover of Playboy magazine.
Their appearances extended to US television with shows such as CBS’s The Red Skelton Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show.
For nearly four decades, the Kessler twins resided in a spacious home in Grünwald, near Munich, Bavaria.
They remained engaged in the entertainment industry, attending premieres until last month.
German newspaper Bild reported the sisters’ demise, stating they ‘no longer wished to live’. They were 89 years old.
Since 2019, medical aid in dying has been legal in Germany, distinguishing it from euthanasia, which remains prohibited.
This method involves patients self-administering a prescribed drug to end their life, unlike euthanasia, which involves a doctor performing the act.
It is permissible when the individual ‘acts responsibly and of their own free will’.
The sisters had expressed a wish to be buried together in the same urn, along with the ashes of their mother Elsa and their dog Yello.
In an interview with Bild in April 2024, the twins disclosed changes to their will regarding the distribution of their wealth.
Neither Alice nor Ellen ever married or had children.
Initially, they planned to leave their entire estate, an undisclosed amount, to the charity Doctors Without Borders.
However, the Kessler twins reconsidered and decided against consolidating everything into one entity.
Instead, they chose to distribute their finances across multiple charities, including the CBM blind mission, UNICEF children’s aid organization, the Paul Klinger Artists’ Social Welfare Fund, and the German Foundation for Patient Protection.
Ellen told the publication: “Last autumn, my sister and I discussed that it shouldn’t just be one person who gets something, but several. We wanted to divide our inheritance more fairly, not throw everything into one pot. There are so many people who need donations.”
At the time, she added: “We still have a little something saved up. We earned very well, never threw our money away, and invested it wisely.”
Bild reported that their inheritance ‘wouldn’t be a small amount’ and included their property, which features a 900 square meter garden and pool.
About ensuring their will was properly executed, Ellen commented: “Our lives have been characterized by discipline.
“Now we are approaching the end. We won’t live much longer. Therefore, we must also approach the end with discipline.”
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.