Kessler Twins, Who Performed With Frank Sinatra, Die By Assisted Suicide On The Same Day

Twin sisters Alice and Ellen Kessler, known in the entertainment world as the Kessler twins, both died by assisted suicide at the age of 89.

The sisters rose to fame in the 1950s and performed with some of the biggest stars of the day including Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, Rock Hudon, and Sammy Davis Jr., per CNN. They enlisted the help of the German Society for Humane Dying to commit suicide. 

“The decisive factor is likely to have been the desire to die together on a specific date,” society spokesperson Wega Wetzel told the outlet of their planned deaths. “Their desire to die was well-considered, long-standing, and free from any psychiatric crisis.”

Assisted suicide in certain circumstances has been legal in Germany since 2020.

During an interview last year with the Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the twin sisters said they were choosing assisted suicide because of their “desire is to go away together, on the same day. The idea of ​​one of us going first is very hard to bear.”

“They had been considering this option for some time. They had been members of the organization for over a year. A lawyer and a doctor conducted preliminary discussions with them,” the the German Society for Humane Dying said in a statement, per Today. “People who choose this option in Germany must be absolutely clear-headed, meaning free and responsible. The decision must be thoughtful and consistent, meaning made over a long period of time and not impulsive.”

The Kessler sisters were born in Nazi Germany and escaped with their family from East Germany to West Germany in 1952. They launched their careers by performing at Lido in Paris, which was a popular place for cabaret performances. The twins went on to achieve international fame and also appeared on popular American television programs, including “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Dean Martin Show.”

The official Instagram account for “The Ed Sullivan Show” paid tribute to the sisters following their deaths, writing, “Honoring the extraordinary lives of the Kessler Twins. Alice & Ellen were dazzling stars, true legends, and sisters whose grace, charm, and magic will shine forever.”

Assisted suicide is becoming increasingly more common around the world, with Canada leading the charge as the world leader in euthanasia. As The Daily Wire previously reported, assisted suicide accounts for one in 20 deaths in Canada. The country is also planning to start offering euthanasia to the mentally ill and to minors.