Alice and Ellen Kessler, stars of post war German entertainment, chose to end their lives together at the age of eighty nine

Alice and Ellen Kessler, the identical twins who became international stars during the post war era and performed with some of the most celebrated entertainers of the twentieth century, have died at the age of eighty nine. The sisters, known across Europe as the Kessler twins, were reported to have chosen assisted suicide after deciding that they no longer wished to continue living.

Their deaths were confirmed by reports in the German publication Bild, which stated that the police had been informed on Monday afternoon that the pair had opted for an assisted death. The announcement brought an immediate wave of tributes across Germany, Italy and France, where the Kessler twins enjoyed long and successful careers in television, cabaret and musical performance.

The sisters were born in 1936 in Saxony and trained from a young age as dancers. Their talent soon attracted attention in a country still recovering from the aftermath of war. They became symbols of a modern and outward looking Germany, offering audiences a vision of glamour, sophistication and artistic excellence. Their identical appearance and perfectly synchronised routines became their trademark and helped propel them beyond national fame toward international recognition.

During the nineteen fifties and nineteen sixties the Kessler twins performed across Europe and the United States. They shared stages with major performers including Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis Junior. These collaborations placed them within the highest ranks of global showbusiness and cemented their reputation as exceptional entertainers. Their elegance and precision made them standout acts at a time when variety entertainment dominated the television schedules of many countries.

Their popularity was not limited to live performance. The twins became frequent guests on European television shows and starred in numerous specials. They were especially well known in Italy, where they became part of the cultural fabric and enjoyed a devoted following. Their appearances on major variety programmes helped define the visual and entertainment style of the period. The sisters also represented Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959, further broadening their international exposure.

According to Bild, the decision to end their lives was carefully planned by the sisters, who expressed a shared wish not to continue living in a state they found unacceptable. Reports suggested they had been preparing for some time and that their decision was made together, consistent with the lifelong bond that shaped both their professional and personal lives.

Assisted suicide remains a complex subject in Germany. Active assistance, where a person directly causes the death of another, is illegal. Passive assistance, which includes providing medication that the individual may choose to take themselves, occupies a legally uncertain position. Court rulings in recent years have challenged previous regulations, leaving a degree of ambiguity surrounding end of life decisions. The case of the Kessler twins is likely to renew public discussion about the role of personal autonomy, dignity and the responsibilities of the state in such matters.

Their deaths mark the end of a remarkable shared life that spanned nearly nine decades. The twins achieved success during a transformative period in European entertainment and remained enduring figures in popular culture long after their period of peak fame. Their ability to reinvent themselves and maintain a strong connection with audiences allowed them to build a legacy that extended well beyond their early careers.

For many fans across Europe, the news of their deaths represents the loss of a distinctive and beloved part of the continent’s cultural history. Alice and Ellen Kessler leave behind a body of work that reflects a unique talent and an extraordinary partnership that remained unbroken from childhood to the final moments of their lives.