The twins Alice and Ellen Kessler, famous German artists and references on Italian television from the sixties onwards, have died together at the age of 89 in their residence near Munich, Germany, after resorting to assisted suicide. The sisters, known for their outstanding careers in television and music during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, had retired in their native country after a successful career, which stood out especially in Italy, where their death has had a wide media impact.
Both lived together in Grünwald, a small town on the outskirts of Munich, where they were found dead on Monday at noon, after the Bavarian police were alerted. Upon arriving at the scene, the agents confirmed his death and ruled out the intervention of third parties.
The German Association for a Dignified Death (DGHS) confirmed to the media that it was an assisted suicide and that the sisters made the decision consciously and premeditated. In Germany, assisted suicide was decriminalized in 2020 and is in legal limbo awaiting new legislation on the issue, while euthanasia remains illegal.
Alice and Ellen Kessler were born on August 20, 1936 in Nerchau, Germany, and from an early age they showed great artistic talent. They trained in ballet and, with the support of their parents, at the age of 18 they emigrated to West Germany, where they began to stand out in the world of entertainment. The turning point in their career came in 1959, when they represented West Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Tonight we want to go dancingwith which they achieved eighth place among the 11 participants.
In 1960, the twins moved to Italy, where their career took off in television and film, becoming a reference in the for its beauty and sophistication. Over the years, they participated in popular television shows, films and cabaret stages, establishing themselves as icons of Italian television. At age 40, the Kesslers posed for the cover of the Italian edition of Playboyan issue that became the magazine’s best-selling issue in the country up to that point.
