German twin entertainers Alice and Ellen Kessler have died by assisted suicide at 89. The sisters passed away on November 17, as confirmed by the German Society for Human Dying (DGHS).
The DGHS issued a statement to NBC on November 18, noting that the twins had been considering this option for a considerable time. They had been members of the organization for over a year. Preliminary discussions were held with a lawyer and a doctor.
The organization further stated that individuals choosing this path in Germany must be absolutely lucid and responsible. The decision must be reflective and consistent, developed over a prolonged period rather than being impulsive.
A DGHS spokesperson, Wega Wetzel, told CNN on November 18 that Alice and Ellen contacted the organization over a year ago. Wetzel added that their wish to die was "well-considered, long-standing and free of any psychiatric crisis."
Wetzel suggested that the decisive factor was likely their desire to die together on a specific date. She did not know the specific reasons behind their choice.
A year prior to their deaths, Alice and Ellen openly discussed their end-of-life plans. They shared their wish to "go together on the same day."
In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, they stated, "The idea that one of us could leave first is very difficult to bear."
Ellen also told German media Bild last year that both sisters wanted their ashes to be placed in the same urn. This urn would also contain the ashes of their mother, Elsa, and their dog, Yello.
Alice and Ellen Kessler were born in Nazi Germany in 1936. They trained as ballet dancers before launching their professional careers in 1950, after their family moved from East to West Germany.
Known professionally as The Kessler Twins, they made their U.S. television debut on CBS’s The Red Skelton Hour in 1963. They also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
The official Instagram account for The Ed Sullivan Show paid tribute to the twins after their passing. The post read: “🌹 Honoring the extraordinary lives of the Kessler twins. Alice & Ellen were dazzling stars, true legends, and sisters whose grace, charm, and magic will shine forever. ✨”
Users flooded the comments section with condolences and reflections on the sisters’ close bond. One user wrote, "They are inseparable; if one dies, surely part of their soul will be torn, leaving the survivor with emptiness and pain. I find it tender how they chose to go together to another life. Rest in peace, the Kessler twins ❤️." Another comment described them as "splendid women, a marvel, unique, beautiful, excellent artists, unforgettable women."