How the Legendary Kessler Twins Choreographed Their Exit

Alice and Ellen Kessler weren’t just identical twins—they were a showstopping duo whose synchronized performances defined post-war European variety, television, and glamour.

On November 17, 2025, they made their final, deeply personal curtain call: the twins died together at the age of 89 through medically assisted dying in Grünwald, Germany.

Twins Born to Perform, Bound for Stardom

Born on August 20, 1936, in Nerchau, Saxony, the Kessler twins trained in ballet from a young age and joined the Leipzig Opera’s child company by age 11. Their ambition carried them far: they eventually moved to the West, danced on the Parisian cabaret scene, and performed alongside legends like Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire.

In Italy, they became household names, dubbed le gemelle Kessler (“the Kessler twins”), and earned the affectionate nickname “the legs of the nation.”

A Life in Tandem for the Twins

Throughout their lives, Alice and Ellen remained inseparable. They lived in adjacent flats in Grünwald, just outside Munich, separated only by a sliding wall.

Their wish for the end was as coordinated as their dance routines: in interviews, they expressed a desire to die together and have their ashes placed in the same urn—alongside their mother, Elsa, and their beloved dog, Yello.

Choosing Their Own Finale

Germany legalized assisted suicide under strict rules in 2019, allowing individuals who act voluntarily and with capacity to receive help in ending their lives. The Kessler twins opted for this route.

According to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Humanes Sterben (German Society for Humane Dying), they not only chose to die together, but also picked the exact date: November 17. Local police responded after their death and confirmed there was no third-party involvement.

Farewell in Perfect Sync

Their final act—planned, peaceful, and private—reflects the rhythm of their lives together. In a way, their choice wasn’t just about ending life; it was about preserving their bond, identity, and dignity on their own terms. Their story challenges us to think about autonomy, aging, and how we define a “good ending.”

Though the world first remembered them for their glamorous choreography and stage presence, now it will also remember them for the graceful agency with which they choreographed their farewell.

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