At the age of 89, the inseparable Kessler twins – Alice and Ellen Kessler, who marked the golden age of Italian television, have died. From ballet and cabaret to variety shows, they were internationally acclaimed singers, dancers, actresses and entertainers.
Born on August 20, 1936 in Nerchau, Germany, they won hearts and became famous in post-war Europe with their entertaining performances. In a previous interview with Bild more than a year ago, the exhibition twins described how they would like to be buried after death.
Suggesting that they wish to be buried in the same urn with the ashes of their beloved mother Elsa and their dog Yella, Ellen Kessler told BILD: “That’s also what we stipulated in our will.
The crime branch was informed on Monday afternoon of the death of the 89-year-old twins by “assisted euthanasia”, German daily Bild reported. Under strict rules, assisted suicide is legal in Germany, but the law requires that the individual decide for themselves, of their own free will.
According to media reports, authorities confirmed the deaths of the Kessler sisters on Monday, November 17, following a phone call from their home in Grünwald. The sisters shared adjoining apartments separated by a sliding wall.
The Kessler twins’ career breakthrough came in 1961 with their signature “Da-da-un-pa” routine directed by Antonello Falqui. As a result, they became beloved icons and earned the nickname “the legs of the nation.” Famous artists have also performed at the Bluebell Girls on the Lido in Paris and have also performed at the Palladium in Düsseldorf. Italian TV stars, appeared in several shows including Giardino d’inverno and Studio Uno.
They made their American television debut on the CBS variety show The Red Skelton Hour. They were also a popular figure in the US and appeared on national television programs such as ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and the 1963 film ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’. The iconic sisters appeared on the cover of Life Magazine in 1963.
At the age of 40, they appeared on the cover of the Italian edition of Playboy, which was the fastest selling Italian Playboy until that time. The German and Italian governments awarded them honorary awards for promoting German-Italian cooperation through their work in show business.
