After the Kessler Twins, Alice and Ellen, made the joint decision to end their lives together, they also shared one final heartfelt wish. Originally from the Nerchau region of Germany, the twins began their entertainment journey as child ballet performers at the Leipzig Opera. Their talent shone brightly from a young age, hinting at their future stardom. In 1952, amidst political turmoil, the sisters, aged 16, fled East Germany for the West.
Their ambition led them to performances across Europe, attracting the attention of renowned figures like Elvis Presley. Moving to Italy in 1962, Alice and Ellen took the ’60s by storm, captivating American audiences on popular shows like The Ed Sullivan Show. Their illustrious career brought them in contact with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, and Eddie Fisher.
Approaching the end of their lives, the twins made a final choice – to depart together through assisted suicide on the same day. In a 2024 interview with Bild, the twins, who remained active in the industry until the end, discussed their wish to have their ashes combined in an urn with their mother Elsa and their dog Yello. Ellen mentioned, “That’s what we stipulated in our will.”
Both Alice and Ellen never married or had children to inherit their undisclosed wealth. Initially designating their assets to Doctors Without Borders, they later decided to split the money among various charities, including CBM blind mission, UNICEF, the Paul Klinger Artists’ Social Welfare Fund, and the German Foundation for Patient Protection.
Ellen explained, “We wanted to divide our inheritance more fairly, not consolidate it into one entity. There are many in need of aid, so we chose to contribute to multiple causes.” They prudently managed their finances, accumulating a substantial estate featuring a property with a 900 square meter garden and a pool. Ellen remarked, “Discipline has defined our lives. As we near the end, we must maintain that discipline.”
According to Bild, the twins opted for medical assistance in dying, a legal option in Germany. While not fully legalized, a 2020 Constitutional Court ruling affirmed the right to self-determined death, allowing for legally permissible assisted suicide in unregulated circumstances.