The world of entertainment has lost one of its most iconic duos. Alice and Ellen Kessler, the German singing and dancing sisters known internationally as the Kessler twins, have died together at the age of 89. They chose to end their lives via assisted suicide on Monday at their home in Grünwald, near Munich.
A Final Decision Made Together
According to the German publication Bild, the performers "no longer wanted to live" and had made the conscious decision to end their lives simultaneously. Local authorities confirmed the dual deaths at their residence, noting there was no indication of foul play. Their passing comes after a significant legal shift in Germany; while a 2015 law had banned the 'commercial promotion of assisted suicide', the country's top court overturned this ban in a 2020 ruling. This allowed the sisters, who were reportedly clear of any coercion, to make this final choice.
A tribute from Radio Monte Carlo on Instagram, as reported, beautifully captured their inseparable bond, stating they "left together, just as they lived: inseparable." The twins had also made specific arrangements for their remains, telling Bild earlier in 2024 that their wish was for their ashes to be placed in a single urn alongside those of their mother, Elsa, and their dog, Yello.
From Ballet to International Stardom
Born in 1936 in the Nerchau area, Alice and Ellen Kessler began their journey in the arts as child ballet performers with the Leipzig Opera. In a pivotal move in 1952, when they were just 16, the family fled communist East Germany for the West. This opened the door for them to perform across Europe, where their sophisticated act quickly gained popularity.
Their fame was not confined to Europe. The Kessler twins became regular guests on American television, making memorable appearances on flagship programmes like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Red Skelton Hour. They performed alongside some of the biggest entertainment giants of the era, including Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Sammy Davis Jr.
Even Elvis Presley became an admirer after reportedly seeing them perform at Le Lido in Paris during his military service in Germany. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw them diversify into singing and relocate to Italy, where they were celebrated as the "legs of the nation," symbols of elegance and stage presence.
An Enduring Legacy
In 1986, Alice and Ellen moved back to West Germany, settling in Grünwald, where they would live for nearly four more decades. Their career, spanning ballet, television, music, and film, left what has been described as an "indelible imprint on the collective imagination." They were a unique artistic partnership, celebrated for their talent, grace, and the remarkable synchrony that defined both their lives and their careers. Their final act was, like their entire lives, a decision made together.
