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The Kessler twins, who were best known for their postwar entertainment in the 1950s and ’60s, have died by joint assisted suicide.
Alice and Ellen Kessler died at age 89 at their home in Grünwald, near Munich, Germany, on Monday.
The sisters “no longer wanted to live” and “they had chosen to end their lives together,” as reported by the German newspaper Bild.
According to CNN, Alice and Ellen were assisted by advocacy organization the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS). The DGHS provides people with access to lawyers and doctors and other tools.
The organization told CNN that the twins contacted the DGHS over a year ago and became members.
“The decisive factor is likely to have been the desire to die together on a specific date,” DGHS spokesperson Wega Wetzel told CNN. However, Wetzel noted that she wasn’t aware of why each woman chose this method.
“Their desire to die was well-considered, long-standing and free from any psychiatric crisis,” she added.
In an interview last year with Italy’s Corriere della Sera, the identical sisters said their wish was “to leave together, on the same day … The idea that one of the two will go first is very difficult to bear.”
Assisted dying was made legal in Germany after it was ruled in 2020 that an individual has the right to end their life and to seek help from a third party as long as the decision is made freely without outside pressure.
“They had been considering this option for some time. They had been members of the organization for over a year. A lawyer and a doctor conducted preliminary discussions with them,” the organization said in a statement, via NBC News. “People who choose this option in Germany must be absolutely clear-headed, meaning free and responsible. The decision must be thoughtful and consistent, meaning made over a long period of time and not impulsive.”
On Tuesday, local police confirmed to CNN that “there was a deployment yesterday lunchtime in Gruenwald” to their residence. The possibility of foul play was ruled out.
In April 2024, Alice and Ellen reportedly told Bild that they wanted their ashes to be buried in the same urn. They will reportedly be buried alongside their mother, Elsa, and dog Yello.
The siblings were born in Nazi Germany, and their family fled East Germany for West Germany in 1952. After taking ballet from a young age, they launched into international fame as they performed at Lido in Paris, a hot spot for cabaret performances.
They also appeared on the Italian variety show “Studio Uno,” represented Germany at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest and made history for being the first female stars to show their legs on-screen.
Over the years, they appeared on popular variety shows such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Dean Martin Show.” They also shared the stage with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Elvis Presley, and Harry Belafonte.
On its official Instagram account, “The Ed Sullivan Show” wrote: “🌹 Honoring the extraordinary lives of the Kessler Twins. Alice & Ellen were dazzling stars, true legends, and sisters whose grace, charm, and magic will shine forever. ✨”
Radio Monte Carlo also shared a touching tribute to Alice and Ellen following their deaths.
“Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable,” the Instagram statement read. “Born in 1936, they were an absolute symbol of European spectacle, including music, dance and television. In Italy, they became celebrities as the ‘legs of the nation,’ icon of elegance and stage presence since the Fifties.”
“A unique artistic couple, capable of leaving an indelible imprint on the collective imagination.”
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.