An unusual incident unfolded as the Kessler twins, who used to be famous entertainers, chose to end their lives together. Alice and Ellen Kesler were two German sisters who became quite popular in the post-war entertainment scene in the 1950s and 1960s. According to German newspaper Bild, on Monday, November 17, the sisters decided to die together with medical assistance at the age of 89.
The media outlet reports that they died in their home near Munich. Bild reports that Alice and Ellen “no longer wanted to live” and that’s what they had chosen to end their lives together.” For those who don’t know, medical aid in dying has been legal in Germany since 2019.
The Dignity in Dying, a British organization, reports that the process is different from euthanasia, which is not recognized legally. In euthanasia, a medical professional administers a lethal substance to end one’s life, whereas in assisted dying, the patient is provided with the means by the doctor, but the final act is carried out by the patient only.
🌹 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. ✨ pic.twitter.com/GfZQdTy22V
— The Ed Sullivan Show (@EdSullivanShow) November 18, 2025
The Kessler twins previously told the German media outlet in April 2024 that they wanted to be buried in the same urn one day. According to the recent report, they will now be buried alongside their mother, Elsa and their pet dog Yello.
Bild also reports that authorities were notified after their assisted deaths. To honor them as the legendary entertainers, Radio Monte Carlo paid tribute through their Instagram page.
“Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable,” they wrote. 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,’ icons of elegance and stage presence since the 1950s. A unique artistic couple, capable of leaving an indelible imprint on the collective imagination,” the statement added.
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According to a German newspaper, KStA, the Kessler twins were born in 1936 in Gau Saxony. From childhood, they took a keen interest in dancing and joined ballet classes around the age of six. They followed their passion from their youth, gradually becoming a household name across Europe at that time.
Later, they also rose to stardom in the United States through the CBS variety show The Red Skelton Hour. Alice and Ellen also appeared on U.S. TV Programs like The Ed Sullivan Show.
For their contributions to the post-war show business, the Kessler twins were honored by both German and Italian governments. Their passing marks the end of an era for post-war European entertainment.
