Their final decision moves the world: the Kessler twins say goodbye together – and international media react with countless tributes.
The Kessler twins are dead. The internationally celebrated sister duo has decided to end their lives together. At the age of 89, Alice and Ellen Kessler chose assisted suicide – a decision that, according to the authorities involved, they had consciously prepared over a long period of time. Her death marks the end of a stage career that spanned over six decades. Her death was also widely reported internationally.
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From the GDR to the wide world
Alice and Ellen Kessler, born in Nerchau in 1936, were on stage in the Leipzig Opera’s ballet as children. In 1952 they fled the GDR to Düsseldorf and from there started an international career. At 19, she was hired by the Paris Lido, where she performed with the Bluebell Girls. This was followed by engagements in New York, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Buenos Aires and Sydney. They gained worldwide fame through collaborations with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire and Harry Belafonte. Their successes shaped the TV and pop culture landscapes of numerous countries. The list of media reporting on the death of the show icons is correspondingly long: from “CNN” to “Italian News” to the “Times of India”, international broadcasters and institutions pay tribute to the sisters.
The Sun regrets the loss of the “iconic showbiz duo”. “The Ed Sullivan Show” posted a tribute on social media, remembering them as “shining stars, true legends and sisters whose grace, charm and magic will shine on forever.”
Italy’s TV favorites
In Italy, the Kessler twins became stars during the golden era of TV. In shows like “Giardino d’inverno” and “Studio Uno” they impressed with perfect synchronicity. Their famous “Da-da-un-pa” performance, directed by Antonello Falqui, earned them the nickname “the legs of the nation.” The great importance of the sisters for the Italian cultural and music scene is also reflected in the reactions of the local media. Radio “Monte Carlo” paid tribute to them with warm words: “Alice and Ellen Kessler walked together – the way they lived: inseparable.” It continues: “Born in 1936, they were an absolute symbol of European entertainment – from music to dance to television. In Italy they became famous as the ‘legs of the nation’, icons of elegance and stage presence since the fifties.” And: “A unique artist duo that leaves an indelible impression on the collective memory.”
Honorable tribute to the Kessler sisters by Radio “Monte Carlo”:
Dying together in Grünwald
On November 17, 2025, Alice and Ellen Kessler died by assisted suicide in their shared home in Grünwald at the age of 89. According to the German Society for Humane Dying, they had prepared their decision for a long time and set the date themselves. The dying process was medically assisted. In their will, they asked that their ashes be buried in a shared urn along with those of their mother Elsa and their dog Yello. They also stipulated that aid organizations should be taken into account.
The Kesslers received numerous honors for their work, including the Golden Rose of Montreux, the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon (1987) and the Bavarian Order of Merit (2025).