The Kessler twins — Alice and Ellen, famous German sisters who rose to global fame as entertainers throughout the 1950s and 1960s — have died at the age of 89.
On Monday, Nov. 17, the pair passed away at their home near Munich through medical aid in dying, according to German outlet Bild. The report noted that the sisters “no longer wanted to live” and chose to take this step together. Authorities were informed once the process was completed.
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Medical aid in dying has been legal in Germany since 2019, per the organization Dignity in Dying. It differs from euthanasia — which remains illegal — in that individuals take prescribed medication themselves rather than having a clinician administer it.
In an interview with Bild earlier this year, Alice and Ellen expressed their wish to have their ashes placed in the same urn. They are expected to be buried alongside their mother, Elsa, and their beloved dog, Yello.
Following news of their deaths, Radio Monte Carlo honored the iconic duo in a statement on Instagram.
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“Alice and Ellen Kessler left together, just as they lived: inseparable,” the tribute said. “Born in 1936, they became a symbol of European entertainment — music, dance and television. In Italy, they were adored as ‘the legs of the nation,’ celebrated for their elegance and unforgettable stage presence since the Fifties.”
The tribute added that they were “a unique artistic couple, capable of leaving an indelible imprint on the collective imagination.”
