Alice and Ellen Kessler became household names in the 1950s
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Warning: this article discusses suicide, and some readers may find the topic difficult to read about.
The Kessler twins — best known for performing with Frank Sinatra — passed away on Monday (November 17) after choosing to end their lives together through medical aid.
Their decision marked the end of a long and closely shared life that had made them famous around the world.
Alice and Ellen Kessler, who were born in August 1936, first rose to prominence in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Their well-known 1959 Eurovision Song Contest duet earned West Germany the eighth spot, which helped introduce them to a wider European audience.
From there, the sisters grew into international stars through the 60s variety show Studio Uno, and their appearance on the cover of Playboy further cemented their status as major entertainment figures of that era.
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According to German outlet Bild, the sisters died at age 89 in their home near Munich after choosing medical aid in dying earlier that Monday.
The paper reported that the pair had decided they did not want to continue living and made the choice to leave the world together, just as they had lived side by side for nearly nine decades.
The report explained that the two had intentionally planned to 'end their lives together' after reaching a point where they felt ready to say goodbye.
Medical aid in dying has been legal in Germany since 2019, although euthanasia itself remains illegal.
The distinction between the two processes is important in German law, and the sisters’ decision fell under the legal form of self-administered assistance.
The twins have died aged 89
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
Medical aid vs euthanasia
With medical aid in dying, the individual takes the prescribed medication on their own to end their life, unlike euthanasia, where a doctor performs the action.
The law allows this only when the person is acting freely, understands the choice, and is not being influenced or assisted in a way that would cross into a prohibited act.
In Germany, the assister cannot administer the drug themselves, as doing so would be considered euthanasia, which remains illegal.
Police were notified of the twins' deaths and quickly determined there was no evidence of foul play. Their passing aligned with their stated wishes, which they had shared publicly before.
In an interview from April of last year, Alice and Ellen revealed that they hoped to one day be buried together in the same urn, showing how deeply intertwined their lives had always been.
Alice and Ellen pictured together earlier this year
Gisela Schober/Getty Images
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Tributes for the twins have filled social media, including a heartfelt message from Radio Monte Carlo on Instagram.
The outlet wrote: "Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable."
"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 or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, support is available through Mental Health America.
You can call or text 988 at any time to reach a 24-hour crisis center, or visit 988lifeline.org for webchat help.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.