The Final Curtain: A Life Lived Together, An End Chosen Together
The world of entertainment has lost one of its most enduring acts. Alice and Ellen Kessler, the German identical twins who captivated international audiences for an impressive seven decades, have died in a joint suicide at the age of 89. Their lives, which were a testament to extraordinary talent and an unbreakable bond, ended as they had always intended – together on the same day, November 17th.
Munich police confirmed on Tuesday that the deaths in the prosperous suburb of Grünwald, where the sisters shared connecting homes, were a 'joint suicide'. This act is legal in Germany under specific conditions, where individuals can act responsibly and of their own free will. The twins had reportedly contacted the German Society for Humane Dying a year prior, fulfilling a long-held euthanasia pact they had spoken of publicly.
From Leipzig Opera to Global Stardom
Their incredible journey began in the most humble of circumstances. Born in Nerchau, Saxony in 1936, the twins laid the foundations for their career at just six years old with the Leipzig Opera's children's ballet. A childhood marked by tragedy and their alcoholic father's brutality forged a survivalist bond between them. 'Our mutual attachment had deeper roots than the usual closeness that characterises twins: for us it was a survival instinct,' they once revealed.
At 16, the family fled East Germany for the West just before the Berlin Wall was built. Their big break came in 1955 when they were discovered by the director of Paris's famous Lido cabaret. This launched an incredible international career that saw them share stages and screens with legends like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Harry Belafonte.
Their career highlights are a chronicle of post-war entertainment:
- Representing Germany at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest.
- Gracing the cover of LIFE magazine in 1960.
- Becoming television pioneers in Italy, where they were the first women to show their legs on screen.
- Turning down an offer to work with Elvis Presley in 'Viva Las Vegas' to avoid being typecast.
- Posing nude for the Italian edition of Playboy at age 40, an issue that sold out in a record three hours.
A Bond Forged in Adversity, Sealed in Independence
Despite the glitz and glamour, the sisters never married or had children, prioritising their independence above all else. 'We lived our lives to the full,' Alice once said. 'We never wanted to be mothers... We never made ourselves dependent on men.' This resolve was a direct response to the domestic violence they witnessed in their youth.
They lived in mirrored, connecting apartments in Grünwald, meeting for lunch every day. Their philosophy was simple: 'Together you're stronger.' This togetherness extended to their final act. In an interview last year, they explained their pact, stating, 'The idea that one of us might get it first is very hard to bear.'
Following their death, it has been revealed that their substantial fortune, including their property, will be left to charities including Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF, a final act of generosity from two women who built their own freedom from the ground up. Their legacy is not just one of glamour and fame, but of profound sisterhood, resilience, and a disciplined approach to life – and death.
