Celebrity NewsTwin Stars, Who Shared the Stage with Fred Astaire and Charmed Elvis Presley, Die on Same Day at 89
Posted: November 18th, 2025, 2:36 pm
Celebrity NewsTwin Stars, Who Shared the Stage with Fred Astaire and Charmed Elvis Presley, Die on Same Day at 89
https://globemagazine.com/twin-stars-wh ... day-at-89/
German twins Alice and Ellen Kessler — who rose to fame as dancers and singers in post World War II Europe in the 1950s and ’60s — died by suicide in their home in Grünwald, Germany, on Monday, November 17, according to Germany’s Bild newspaper.
They were 89.
The sisters got their start as dancers at the Lido in Paris in the ’50s, where they met Elvis Presley while he was serving in the Army. He was so impressed by their skills that he invited them over, but when they didn’t swoon over him, he acted insecure and shy — “a man full of complexes” they said, according to German broadcast network SWR.
They represented West Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959, then moved to Italy, where they became huge stars. In the U.S., they got recognition on The Red Skelton Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show, and even shared the stage during their career with Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire, according to Parade.
Earlier this year, Alice spoke to Bild about their plans to die by medical aid, which is legal in Germany. “I think 90 years is generally enough. That’s quite a long time. Many people need help and care in old age,” she said. “Who wants to go into a nursing home or become dependent on care? Certainly not me.”
She also revealed that the twins wanted their ashes to be in the same urn, along with their late mother and their beloved poodle. “We loved each other very much,” Alice told the outlet. “United in death, that is what we would like.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
https://globemagazine.com/twin-stars-wh ... day-at-89/
German twins Alice and Ellen Kessler — who rose to fame as dancers and singers in post World War II Europe in the 1950s and ’60s — died by suicide in their home in Grünwald, Germany, on Monday, November 17, according to Germany’s Bild newspaper.
They were 89.
The sisters got their start as dancers at the Lido in Paris in the ’50s, where they met Elvis Presley while he was serving in the Army. He was so impressed by their skills that he invited them over, but when they didn’t swoon over him, he acted insecure and shy — “a man full of complexes” they said, according to German broadcast network SWR.
They represented West Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1959, then moved to Italy, where they became huge stars. In the U.S., they got recognition on The Red Skelton Hour and The Ed Sullivan Show, and even shared the stage during their career with Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire, according to Parade.
Earlier this year, Alice spoke to Bild about their plans to die by medical aid, which is legal in Germany. “I think 90 years is generally enough. That’s quite a long time. Many people need help and care in old age,” she said. “Who wants to go into a nursing home or become dependent on care? Certainly not me.”
She also revealed that the twins wanted their ashes to be in the same urn, along with their late mother and their beloved poodle. “We loved each other very much,” Alice told the outlet. “United in death, that is what we would like.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org