Kessler twins leave together: tragic farewell in Grünwald

Kessler twins leave together: tragic farewell in Grünwald

The sadness is palpable, because on November 17, 2025, the Kessler twins, Alice and Ellen Kessler, said goodbye to life in Grünwald near Munich at the age of 89. In a moving and tragic move, the two sisters decided to die together. The police confirmed the operation on site, but did not provide any further information about the background. According to reports from the AFP agency, the sisters committed suicide, which the German Society for Human Dying (DGHS) confirmed as assisted suicide. This is a form of euthanasia in which medical assistance is sought in order to die painlessly and which is permitted in Germany under strict conditions, such as focus.de reported.

Born on August 20, 1936 in Nerchau, Saxony, Alice and Ellen became internationally known in the 1950s, particularly for their distinctive tights look, which made them stars on stages in New York, Las Vegas and Paris. In recent years they had led a quieter life in a semi-detached house in Grünwald, but were always inseparable. Their career began early when they were discovered at the Düsseldorf revue theater in 1952 and changed their last name from Kaessler to Kessler. The two sisters achieved great fame and performed with many international stars. The last years of their lives were shaped by art, but their most important performances and the deep bond they shared remained unforgotten for many. They had also made a name for themselves by awarding various prizes such as the Golden Rose of Montreux and the Federal Cross of Merit.

A self-determined end

The Kessler twins had intensively studied the concept of assisted suicide for several years and even set their own date of death. A lawyer and a doctor accompanied her through this process, which fulfilled the requirement for a self-determined death. The legal guidelines require that the wish to die lasts longer and does not arise from an impulsive affect. The Kessler twins had no children and had given special consideration to aid organizations in their will.

Their wish was clear: they wanted to be buried together in one urn, and their ashes should also include those of their mother, who died in 1977, and their faithful poodle Yello. This intimate connection and the inseparable life path of the two sisters is reflected not only in their shared life path, but also in the way they chose to spend their last days. Their birthplace, Nerchau, had granted them honorary citizenship, and in 2025 they received the Bavarian Order of Merit - a great appreciation for two impressive women who were not only artists, but also people full of grace and depth.