Alice and Ellen Kessler, known worldwide as the Kessler Twins (German: Die Kessler-Zwillinge, owned by Le Gemelle Kessler, The Kessler Twins), died on November 17, 2025 at the age of 89. The famous twin sisters who conquered the stage of the 1960s and 1970s decided to jointly assisted suicide at their home in Grünwald near Munich. The information was confirmed by a spokesman for the German Humanitarian Dying Society (DGHS).
The sisters were born on 20 August 1936 in Nerchau (now part of Grimma in Saxony) in East Germany. From an early age, they showed talent for dancing – as children they joined the children's ballet of the Leipzig Opera. In 1952, only 16 years old, they and their parents fled to West Germany, settling in Düsseldorf. There they began a professional dance career that quickly moved them to international scenes.
The real breakthrough came in 1955 when the Kesslers joined the famous Lido cabaret in Paris. As dancers and singers, they gained publicity thanks to synchronized performances that combined elegance, humor and sex appeal. In 1959, they represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest with the track "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh’n", taking 8th place. Their career gained momentum in the 1960s when American choreographer Don Lurio discovered it and invited them to Italy. There they became television stars, appearing in popular programs and films. They collaborated with the legends of the stage, such as Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, and Jerry Lewis.
In the 1970s they continued performing in Germany and Italy, appearing in musicals, films and on cabaret scenes. Their trademark – identical blond hairstyles, high heels and perfect sync – made them pop culture icons. After years of stage activity, the sisters withdrew from public life, although they occasionally appeared in the media. In 2024, in an interview, they expressed their wish to "go together", which tragically came true a year later.
The death of twins shook the world of show business and sparked discussions about euthanasia.DGHS, which supports the right to a dignified death, stressed that the decision of the sisters was conscious and in accordance with their will. However, the pro-life groups criticised the "glorification" of such a choice. Alice and Ellen Kessler left behind the legacy as symbols of joy and harmony that accompanied them throughout their lives.
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