The Kessler twins — Alice and Ellen — legendary performers who once shared the stage with icons like Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire, have died at age 89 through medical aid at their home near Munich. According to German outlet Bild, the sisters had chosen to end their lives together, saying they “no longer wanted to live.” Born in 1936, the twins rose to fame in the 1950s and ’60s, representing West Germany in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, where they placed eighth and earned international attention.
Their popularity grew through the 1960s variety show Studio Uno, and a Playboy Magazine cover helped cement their status as European stars. They later became beloved TV personalities known for their elegance, synchronized performances, and long-lasting bond. Medical aid in dying has been legal in Germany since 2019.
Unlike euthanasia, which is illegal across Europe, medical aid requires the individual to self-administer prescribed life-ending medication voluntarily and responsibly. Police stated there was no foul play in the twins’ deaths. The sisters had previously expressed their wish to be buried together in the same urn.
Following the news, Radio Monte Carlo paid tribute, saying: “Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable… An iconic artistic duo who left an indelible mark on European entertainment.”
Rest in peace, Alice and Ellen Kessler.