{{Short description|German singers, dancers and actresses (1936–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Kessler Twins | image = Gemelle Kessler 1965 (cropped).jpg | caption = The Kessler Twins in 1965 | birth_name = Alice Kaessler<br />Ellen Kaessler | birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|08|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Nerchau, Gau Saxony, Nazi Germany | death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|11|17|1936|08|20|df=y}} | death_place = Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany | other_names = {{lang|de|die Kessler-Zwillinge}} (in Germany)<br />{{lang|it|le gemelle Kessler}} (in Italy) | years_active = 1947–2016 | parents = | occupation = {{Flatlist| * Singers * dancers * actresses }} }}
'''Alice''' and '''Ellen Kessler''' (born '''Kaessler''', {{IPA|de|aˈliːsə/ˈɛlən ˈkɛslɐ|lang}}; 20 August 1936 – 17 November 2025), usually credited as the '''Kessler Twins''' ({{langx|de|die Kessler-Zwillinge|links=no}}; {{langx|it|le gemelle Kessler|links=no}}), were twin German singers, dancers and actresses who were popular in Europe, especially Germany and Italy, during the 1950s and 1960s.
== Early life == Twin sisters Alice and Ellen Kessler were born on 20 August 1936 in Nerchau, Saxony,<ref name="y506">{{cite web | title='Im Tode vereint' — Kessler-Zwillinge gemeinsam gestorben | website=Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.ksta.de/panorama/promis/kessler-zwillinge-unter-ungeklaerten-umstaenden-gestorben-1152084 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> to parents Paul and Elsa Kaessler<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=5 August 2019 |title="Platz sparen": Kessler-Zwillinge wollen mit ihrer Mutter in eine Urne |url=https://www.mz.de/panorama/stars-und-prominente/platz-sparen-kessler-zwillinge-wollen-mit-ihrer-mutter-in-eine-urne-1585796 |access-date= |website=Mitteldeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> (also spelled Kässler).<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-11-20 |title=Nicht nur neben der Mutter: Kessler-Zwillinge finden ihre letzte Ruhe auf diesem Friedhof |url=https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/nicht-nur-neben-der-mutter-kessler-zwillinge-finden-ihre-letzte-ruhe-auf-diesem-friedhof-art-1094093 |access-date=2025-11-21 |website=Abendzeitung |language=de}}</ref> The girls started ballet classes at the age of six,<ref name="s931">{{cite web | title=Kessler-Zwillinge Alice und Ellen sind gestorben | website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/kessler-zwillinge-alice-und-ellen-sind-gestorben-110784674.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> and they joined the Leipzig Opera's child ballet program at age 11.<ref name="o934">{{cite web | title=Kessler-Zwillinge feiern ihren 160. Geburtstag | website=Leipziger Volkszeitung | date=20 August 2016 | url=https://www.lvz.de/lokales/leipzig-lk/grimma/kessler-zwillinge-feiern-ihren-160-geburtstag-L7E5H4LTOIVNSUTEEZGBDNTMWY.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> In 1952, when the twins were 16, their parents used a visitor's visa for the family to leave East Germany.<ref name="o934" /><ref name="Feddersen">{{cite web | last=Feddersen | first=Jan | title=Kessler-Zwillinge feierten ihren 82. Geburtstag | website=eurovision.de | date=20 August 2018 | url=https://www.eurovision.de/feddersens_kommentar/Kessler-Zwillinge-feierten-ihren-82-Geburtstag,kesslerzwillinge106.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="i365">{{cite web | title=Im Alter von 89 Jahren: Die Kessler-Zwillinge sind gestorben | website=Die Zeit | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2025-11/17/die-kessler-zwillinge-sind-gestorben | language=de |agency=dpa | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:Kessler Twins 1966.JPG|thumb|upright|The Kessler Twins on ''The Danny Kaye Show'' in 1966]] thumb|upright|Kessler Twins in 1966 After they reached Düsseldorf, the sisters performed at the Palladium theatre.<ref name="n815">{{cite web | title=singend und tanzend ins internationale Showbusiness | website=SWR | date=19 August 2022 | url=https://www.swr.de/kultur/musik/artikel-kessler-zwillinge-stars-tanzen-singen-lido-fernsehen-100.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> Between 1955 and 1960, they performed at The Lido in Paris.<ref name="n815" /> There they met American singer Elvis Presley, who was on leave from the army on 17 June 1959.<ref name="n815" /> The twins represented {{esccnty|Germany|t=West Germany}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 1959, finishing in 8th place with "{{lang|de|Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n|i=no}}" ("Tonight we want to go dancing").<ref name="Elle">{{cite web |url=https://www.elle.com/it/showbiz/celebrities/news/a172286/gemelle-kessler-storia-delle-dive-della-tv-italiana/ |title=Perché le gambe delle gemelle Kessler erano il sogno di tutte? La vera storia delle dive della tv italiana|website=www.elle.com |date=24 September 2017 |access-date=14 June 2022 |language=it}}</ref><ref name="n815" /> While performing at The Lido, they also met Don Lurio, a US-born Italian choreographer who brought them to Italy in 1961.<ref name=somemorekesslerinfo>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/18/the-kessler-twins-sisters-alice-and-ellen-die-together-aged-89|title=The Kessler Twins sisters Alice and Ellen die together aged 89|first=Angela|last=Giuffrida|work=The Guardian|date=18 November 2025|accessdate=18 November 2025}}</ref>
In 1962, the twins moved to Italy,<ref name="q235">{{cite web | title=Kessler-Zwillinge werden 75 | website=SWI swissinfo.ch | date=20 August 2011 | url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/eins-plus-eins-ist-eins-kessler-zwillinge-werden-75/30951418 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> changing their surname from Kaessler to Kessler.<ref>Wulff, Hans-Jürgen: Der Tanz der Puppen. Die Kessler-Zwillinge und ihre Performances. In: ''montage AV. Zeitschrift für Theorie und Geschichte audiovisueller Kommunikation'', (2015), Nr. 1, p. 159-170</ref> They gradually worked into more serious roles and became very popular through the RAI television variety show ''Studio Uno'' (1961–1966), with the opening theme "Da-da-un-pa" becoming their most memorable song in Italy.<ref name="n815" /> At the age of 40, they agreed to pose for the cover of an issue of the Italian edition of ''Playboy'', which became the fastest-selling Italian ''Playboy'' to that date.<ref name="Elle"/><ref name="q235" />
The Kessler sisters were also significantly popular in the United States, making their American television debut on variety show ''The Red Skelton Hour''<ref name="c888">{{cite web | title='The Red Skelton Hour' (CBS) Season 12 (1962–63) | website=CTVA US Music Variety | date=25 September 1962 | url=https://ctva.biz/US/MusicVariety/RedSkeltonShow_12_(1962-63).htm | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> and appearing on national television programs including ''The Danny Kaye Show'' and ''The Ed Sullivan Show''.<ref name="e327">{{cite web | title=Showgirls Alice und Ellen Kessler | website=Der Spiegel | date=19 August 2016 | url=https://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/showgirls-alice-und-ellen-kessler-fotostrecke-139806.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> They also appeared in the 1962 film ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' as dancers, and were depicted on the cover of ''Life'' that same year.<ref name="l059">{{cite web | title=February 22 1963 Life Magazine Sensations from Germany Kessler Twins on Cover | website=Etsy Canada | date=22 February 1963 | url=https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1764783434/february-22-1963-life-magazine | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
thumb|The Kessler Twins in 2005 The Kessler Twins moved back to Germany in 1986 and lived in Grünwald, near Munich, Bavaria.<ref name="q235" /> They received awards from both the German and Italian governments for promoting German–Italian cooperation through their work in show business.<ref name="Wulff" />
== Personal lives and deaths == Despite both sisters having a history of romances – with Ellen being with the Italian actor Umberto Orsini for 20 years, and Alice having relationships with the French singer Marcel Amont and Italian actor Enrico Maria Salerno – neither of the two sisters ever married.<ref name=somemorekesslerinfo /><ref name=somekesslerinfo>{{cite news |last=Arkin |first=Daniel |date=18 November 2025 |title=The Kessler Twins, German entertainment duo, die together by assisted suicide |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/kessler-twins-german-entertainment-duo-die-together-joint-assisted-sui-rcna244615 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref>
The twins died together, by assisted suicide in Grünwald, on 17 November 2025, at the age of 89.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2025 |website=The New York Times |title=Alice and Ellen Kessler, '60s Singing Sensations, Die at 89 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/arts/alice-ellen-kessler-dead.html |access-date=20 November 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Etienne |first=Vanessa |date=17 November 2025 |title=Twin Sisters Who Were Once Famous Entertainers Choose to End Their Lives on the Same Day |url=https://people.com/kessler-twins-end-lives-together-medical-aid-in-dying-11851001 |access-date=17 November 2025 |magazine=People}}</ref><ref name="v320">{{cite web | last=Klugmayer | first=Lisa | title=Die Kessler-Zwillinge sind tot | website=FOCUS online | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.focus.de/kultur/stars/die-kessler-zwillinge-sind-tot_c77ba2e7-4acb-48c4-9a9f-5ab769738087.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref><ref name=somekesslerinfo /> The suicide took place in the presence of a doctor and a lawyer from the German Society for Humane Dying.<ref name="f063">{{cite web | last1=Hoffmann | first1=Nadja | last2=Zsolnay | first2=Maria | last3=Woitsch | first3=Katrin | title=Alice und Ellen Kessler sind tot – Sie wurden von Sterbehilfeverein begleitet | website=Merkur.de | date=19 November 2025 | url=https://www.merkur.de/lokales/muenchen-lk/das-leben-genommen-alice-und-ellen-kessler-haben-sich-94042219.html | language=de | access-date=19 November 2025}}</ref> It was known that the twins did not want to become dependent on nursing care, and wanted to die together.<ref>{{cite news| last=Frey | first=Angelica | title=Inseparable, sensuous and confident, the Kessler twins were pioneers of variety show culture | newspaper=The Guardian | date=21 November 2025 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/nov/21/inseperable-sensuous-and-confident-the-kessler-twins-were-pioneers-of-variety-show-culture}}</ref> According to a friend, Ellen had suffered a stroke in October, and their general quality of life was declining due to heart problems and loss of the sense of smell.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=18 November 2025 |author=Teresa Winter, Maria Zsolnay |date=18 November 2025 |language=de |title='Wir sehen uns wieder auf Wolke 7': Der Abschiedsbrief der Kessler-Zwillinge |url=https://www.merkur.de/lokales/muenchen/alice-ellen-kessler-schickten-abschiedsbrief-an-ihre-freundinnen-94043647.html |website=Münchner Merkur}}<!-- Auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> In a 2023 interview with ''Bild'', the sisters revealed that they had changed their last will and testament. They had initially wanted to bequeath their entire estate to Doctors Without Borders, but changed it so that more social organisations would inherit something; these organisations included the Paul Klinger Künstlersozialwerk, CBM Blindenmission, UNICEF, and Deutsche Stiftung Patientenschutz.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trunk |first=Steffen |date=19 November 2025 |title=Kessler-Zwillinge bestimmten im Testament: Wer das Millionen-Haus erbt |url=https://www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de/promis/kessler-zwillinge-bestimmten-im-testament-wer-das-millionen-haus-erbt-art-1093808 |access-date=20 November 2025 |website=www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de |language=de}}</ref>
==Selected filmography== '''Sources:'''<ref name="t845">{{cite web | title=Alice Kessler | website=filmportal.de | date=20 August 1936 | url=https://www.filmportal.de/person/alice-kessler_117030a3057348a4a89845d1f4a315e9 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="o962">{{cite web | title=Ellen Kessler | website=filmportal.de | date=20 August 1936 | url=https://www.filmportal.de/person/ellen-kessler_c05b693e02d648c5b522a7059eaa4431 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> * ''As Long as There Are Pretty Girls'' (1955)<ref name="Guttmann">{{cite web | last=Guttmann | first=Katja | title=Kessler-Zwillinge mit 89 Jahren in München gestorben | website=Süddeutsche.de | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/kessler-zwillinge-tot-muenchen-li.3339936 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> * ''The Beggar Student'' (1956)<ref name="t528">{{cite web | author=CINEMA online | title=Kino bei CINEMA: Kinoprogramm, Filme, DVDs, Stars, Trailer und mehr | website=cinema.de | date=18 December 1956 | url=https://www.cinema.de/film/der-bettelstudent,1298468.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> * ''The Count of Luxembourg'' (1957)<ref name="s931" /> * ''The Twins from Zillertal'' (1957)<ref name="o860">{{cite web | title=Die Zwillinge vom Zillertal | website=filmportal.de | url=https://www.filmportal.de/film/die-zwillinge-vom-zillertal_df209a9ed3a246038337de551ad70fa4 | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref> * ''My Sweetheart Is from Tyrol'' (1958) * ''Gräfin Mariza'' (1958) * {{lang|fr|{{ill|Les Magiciennes|fr|3=Les Magiciennes (film, 1960)|lt=Les Magiciennes}}}} (1960) * ''Love and the Frenchwoman'' (1960) * ''Erik the Conqueror'' (1961) * ''The Bird Seller'' (1962) * ''Sodom and Gomorrah'' (1962) * ''Wedding Night in Paradise'' (1962) * ''The Thursday'' (1963) * ''Dead Woman from Beverly Hills'' (1964)<ref name="s931" />
==Awards== * Premio Capo Circe<ref name="Wulff">{{cite journal | last1=Wulff | first1=Hans-Jürgen | author2=mediarep.org | title=Der Tanz der Puppen. Die Kessler-Zwillinge und ihre Performances |journal=Montage AV. Zeitschrift für Theorie und Geschichte audiovisueller Kommunikation | date=2015 | issn=0942-4954 | doi=10.25969/MEDIAREP/3506 | doi-access=free | language=de | page=}}</ref> * 1987: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany<ref name="n815" /> * 2006: Honorary citizens of Grimma<ref name="n815" /><ref name="k749">{{cite web | title=Ehrenbürger der Stadt Grimma | website=Stadt Grimma | url=https://www.grimma.de/portal/seiten/ehrenbuerger-der-stadt-grimma-900000151-27290.html | language=de | access-date=18 November 2025}}</ref> * 2025: Bavarian Order of Merit<ref name="Reppenhagen">{{cite web | last=Reppenhagen | first=Charlotte | title=Sie starben gemeinsam! Die berühmten Kessler-Zwillinge sind tot | website=gala.de | date=17 November 2025 | url=https://www.gala.de/stars/news/alice---ellen-kessler-starben-gemeinsam--kessler-zwillinge-sind-tot-24489932.html | language=de | access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |last1=Kessler |first1=Alice |last2=Kessler |first2=Ellen |date=1996 |title=Eins und eins ist eins |language=de |publisher=Ed. Ferenczy bei Bruckmann |isbn=978-3-7654-2880-7|oclc=38132100}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book |last=Probst |first=Ernst |date=2002 |title=Königinnen des Tanzes |language=de |publisher=Probst |isbn=978-3-935718-99-8}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} {{Wikiquote}} * {{IMDb name|id=0450300|name=Alice Kessler}} * {{IMDb name|id=0450326|name=Ellen Kessler}} * {{Discogs artist|Alice & Ellen Kessler}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080618000509/http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/dance/clips/14867/ Interviewed by the CBC, c. 1960] (the interview, made while they were employed at The Lido, starts halfway through the clip) * [https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/the-kessler-sisters-scopitone-and-desmond/ Kessler Sisters on Scopitone]
{{S-start}} {{Succession box | before=Margot Hielscher<br />with "Für zwei Groschen Musik" | title=Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest | years='''1959''' | after=Wyn Hoop<br />with "Bonne nuit ma chérie" }} {{S-end}} {{Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}} {{Eurovision Song Contest 1959|state=collapsed}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kessler Twins}} Category:1936 births Category:2025 deaths Category:2025 suicides Category:People from Grimma Category:Actresses from Saxony Category:German child actresses Category:German women singers Category:German film actresses Category:20th-century German actresses Category:Recipients of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:German twins Category:Identical twin actresses Category:Twin musical duos Category:Actresses from Munich Category:Identical twin females Category:Female musical duos Category:German female dancers Category:Eurovision Song Contest entrants Category:Deaths by euthanasia Category:Suicides in Germany Category:Actors and actresses who died by suicide Category:Joint suicides Category:Female suicides Category:Artists who died by suicide Category:Musicians who died by suicide