The Kessler Twins have transcended this world hand in hand. Alice Kessler and Ellen Kessler, the German twin sisters who graced the stage as a captivating variety entertainment duo, bid their earthly embrace in a joint assisted suicide at their abode in Gruenwald, Germany, on November 17th, as reported by the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS). "Their contemplation of this option had been a long-held one," declared the association, an advocate for the right to a self-determined death, in a statement to NBC News. "They had been members of our organization for over a year."
Underlining the necessity for those "who choose this path in Germany to be absolutely lucid, free from any undue influence," the DGHS emphasized that the sisters engaged in profound discussions with a legal counsel and a physician before embarking on this journey. "The decision must be reflective and consistent," the DGHS added, "meaning it was a product of time and not an impulsive act."
Assisted dying is a legal right in Germany, with the country's constitutional court ruling in 2020 that an individual has the liberty to end their life and seek aid from a third party under certain conditions. The Kessler Sisters rose to fame in 1959 when they represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest, and their journey to success saw them perform in Italy before making their American TV debut in 1963. Last year, the unmarried duo expressed their shared wish to depart together. "Our desire is to leave this world together, on the same day," they shared in a 2024 interview with the German newspaper Corriere della Sera. "The thought of one of us leaving first is too much to bear."
Wega Wetzel, DGHS spokesperson, shared with CNN that she is not privy to the precise reasons behind Alice and Ellen's decision for assisted suicide, though she speculated that "the decisive factor was likely their desire to depart together on a specific date." The representative added, "Their wish to die was well-considered, long-standing, and devoid of any psychiatric turmoil."
