Alice and Ellen Kessler, the German twins who rose to international fame as a singing and dancing duo in the 1950s, have passed away by joint assisted dying at the age of 89, according to the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS).
The sisters died in their home in Grünwald, a suburb of Munich, after entering the assisted dying process more than a year ago, the advocacy organization confirmed on November 18. Local police acknowledged responding to an incident at the residence, but did not provide further details.
A DGHS spokesperson said the twins’ decision was “well-considered, long-standing, and free from any psychiatric crisis,” adding that they had expressed a clear wish to die on the same day. In past interviews, the Kesslers said the idea of one sister dying before the other was “very hard to bear.”
Assisted dying is legal under certain conditions in Germany following a 2020 court ruling affirming an individual’s right to end their life with third-party help.
Click through the following gallery to learn more about assisted dying laws around the world and how different countries approach this complex issue.