German Twin Entertainers Kessler Die by Assisted Dying at 89

Alice and Ellen Kessler, the renowned German twin entertainers who captivated audiences across Europe and the United States in the postwar era, died on November 17 at their home in Grünwald, a suburb of Munich. The sisters, both 89, chose to end their lives together through assisted dying, a process they pursued because they no longer wished to live, according to reports from local authorities and media.

Police responded to a call at the sisters' residence that afternoon and confirmed the deaths, finding no evidence of foul play. Assisted dying has been legal in Germany since 2019, allowing individuals to self-administer prescribed medication under strict conditions that ensure free will and medical oversight. This differs from euthanasia, in which a physician directly administers the fatal dose, a practice that remains prohibited. The twins, who lived inseparably in adjoining apartments connected by a sliding wall, completed the process privately at home.

Born on August 20, 1936, in Nerchau, in what was then Nazi Germany, Alice and Ellen began their artistic journey early. At age six, they started ballet lessons and joined the child ballet program of the Leipzig Opera by age...