GRÜNWALD, GERMANY — Alice and Ellen Kessler, the legendary German twin entertainers whose careers spanned more than seven decades, have died at the age of 89 after choosing to end their lives together through assisted suicide.
Authorities confirmed that the sisters passed away on 17 November 2025 in their shared residence near Munich. Police reported no signs of foul play, and the process was carried out legally under Germany’s medical aid-in-dying guidelines.
The twins’ decision was made in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben (DGHS), a prominent German right-to-die organization. According to the group, the sisters selected their final day intentionally and jointly, honoring a lifelong wish to remain together in all stages of life.
A Bond That Defined a Career
Born in Saxony in 1936, the Kessler Twins began as ballet dancers before fleeing East Germany in the early 1950s. Their rise to fame across Europe—especially in Italy—turned them into staples of post-war entertainment, admired for their synchronized performances, elegance, and stage charisma.
They performed alongside global stars including Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Harry Belafonte, and became regulars on television variety shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Their image as a unified pair became central to their public and private identities.
A Final Act Made Together
The sisters reportedly planned their deaths far in advance, leaving detailed instructions, including their wish for their ashes to be placed in a single urn, along with those of their mother and their beloved dog.
Family friends and representatives described their final decision as consistent with how they lived—deeply connected, mutually devoted, and unwaveringly coordinated.
A Nation Reflects
News of their joint passing has sparked conversations throughout Germany about autonomy, dignity, aging, and the ethics surrounding assisted dying. Admirers across Europe continue to pay tribute to the pair remembered as symbols of resilience, glamour, and unity.
The Kessler Twins leave behind a legacy of artistry and an unforgettable presence in European popular culture—two performers who moved in perfect harmony until their very last moment.
References (All Links Here Only)
- Euronews – Coverage of the Kessler Twins’ cause of death
https://de.euronews.com/kultur/2025/11/17/kessler-zwillinge-alice-und-ellen-todesursache - LaPresse – DGHS confirms they “chose their date of death”
https://lapresse.us/entertainment/2025/11/17/kessler-twins-german-association-they-chose-their-date-of-death - tz.de – Local Munich reporting on assisted suicide
https://www.tz.de/muenchen/region/alice-und-ellen-kessler-haben-sich-das-leben-genommen-94042183.html - ANSA/Bild – Reporting on assisted suicide circumstances
https://www.ansa.it/english/news/lifestyle/arts/2025/11/17/assisted-suicide-for-kessler-twins-bild_c509613a-6199-43cd-a44a-86e535cd9e27.html - Web.de – Additional reporting on the manner of death
https://web.de/magazine/unterhaltung/stars/kessler-zwillinge-starben-assistierten-suizid-41600162
