Alice and Ellen Kessler, the legendary German twins who rose to fame in the post war era, have died at the age of 89. The inseparable sisters chose to leave the world in the same way they lived in it. They lived together always at their home in Munich and also chose to die together, through medically assisted dying on November 17, as reported by the German newspaper Bild.In the final chapter of their lives, the twins shared a quiet honesty about their emotional and physical exhaustion, saying they “no longer wanted to live.” Their decision was one they made together with clarity and intention. After the procedure was completed, authorities were notified as required. The police confirmed there were no signs of foul play. The German Society for Humane Dying later stated that the pair had opted for assisted suicide, a practice that has been legal in Germany since 2019. Unlike euthanasia, the law allows individuals to self-administer the medication, keeping the choice fully in their hands.
More about Kessler Twins
Born in 1936 in Nerchau, the sisters began performing as children with the Leipzig Opera ballet before rising to become icons across Europe in the 1950s and 60s. Their elegance, precision, and charisma made them beloved especially in Italy, where they were affectionately called “the legs of the nation.” From music to dance to television, the Kessler twins embodied a kind of old-world showbiz magic that never dimmed, even as they stepped away from the limelight.The sisters had spent decades under the same roof in Grünwald, living in adjoining flats divided only by a sliding wall, a symbolic reminder of how they remained close but allowed each other room to breathe. Even in their later years, the bond between the Kesslers remained the force that carried them. Just before turning 80, Alice reflected on the power of their partnership: “Being on the road as a duo only has advantages. You’re stronger together.” In their will, they requested that their ashes rest in a single urn — a final gesture of unity after a lifetime of shared stages, shared triumphs, and shared quiet moments.
