Kessler twins Ellen and Alice, singer-dancers who performed with Sinatra and Belafonte, dead at 89

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The Kessler twins, Alice and Ellen, who shared a remarkable career performing alongside legends like Frank Sinatra, Harry Belafonte, and Fred Astaire, have passed away at the age of 89. They died together on Monday.

Police confirmed to the Associated Press that two women died in what they described as a joint suicide. The women lived together in Grünwald, a suburb located just south of Munich.

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I was really saddened to hear that Sally Kirkland passed away at 84. She was such a talented actress – I remember being blown away by her performance in ‘Anna’ back in 1987, and she rightfully won a Golden Globe and even got an Oscar nomination for it. Apparently, she’d entered hospice care just over the weekend. It’s a real loss.

Identical twins born in Nechau on August 20, 1936, reportedly died together, choosing to end their lives, according to German news outlet Bild. The report stated they did so willingly and of their own accord. Germany allows medically assisted dying for individuals who are mentally competent and make the decision themselves.

The twin sisters shared a lifelong bond, starting with childhood dance lessons and continuing through their performances with the Leipzig Opera’s children’s ballet, according to the AP. After World War II, when their family ended up in East Germany, they all escaped to West Germany in 1952.

The Kessler twins, both around 5’10” tall, were spotted performing in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1955 by the director of the Lido cabaret in Paris, according to DPA International. This discovery kickstarted their international career, leading them to perform in Rome, travel the world, and share the stage with many famous artists, as reported by DPA.

The group turned down a chance to be in the Elvis Presley movie “Viva Las Vegas” because they didn’t want to be typecast in American musicals. However, they still found success in film and television, mainly appearing in Italian and German productions, according to IMDb. They also performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” three times in the early 1960s and once on “The Red Skelton Show” in 1963.

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Diane Ladd, the acclaimed actress and mother of Laura Dern, passed away on Monday at her home in Ojai at the age of 89. Dern announced her mother’s death, sharing that she ‘is flying with her angels now.’

The Kesslers continued performing well into their 80s, once explaining to DPA that working as a duo was a benefit, saying, “We’re stronger together on the road.”

I was so touched to read that these two women had made arrangements in their wills to be buried together, in the same urn as their mother and their cherished dog. It’s a beautiful testament to their bond, especially considering they never married. It just shows how family isn’t always defined by traditional labels.

On Monday, Radio Monte Carlo posted a tribute to Ellen and Alice Kessler on social media.

The Kessler twins, Alice and Ellen, who were known for being inseparable in life, have passed away, according to a post on Instagram by the radio station broadcasting from Monaco and Milan. Born in 1936, the twins were famous throughout Europe for their work in music, dance, and television. In Italy, they became national celebrities in the 1950s, celebrated for their elegance and captivating stage presence – often referred to as ‘the legs of the nation.’

“A unique artistic couple, capable of leaving an indelible imprint on the collective imagination.”

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2025-11-18 23:33