The world of entertainment is bidding farewell to Alice and Ellen Kessler, the unforgettable twin performers who left an indelible mark on Italian television. Their unmistakable rhythm and choreography in the iconic Studio Uno opening sequence—da-da-un-pa—became part of national pop culture from the moment they appeared on screen in 1961. With their elegance, discipline, and irresistible stage presence, the German-born sisters revolutionized the variety format and became household names throughout the 1960s.

The twins, who built a lifelong artistic partnership spanning dance, music, theater, and television, remained inseparable to the end. According to German newspaper Bild, the 89-year-old sisters died in Grünwald, near Munich, having chosen to end their lives together, likely through assisted suicide—an option allowed in Germany under specific conditions and only when the individual acts voluntarily and independently.

They had spoken openly about wanting to share not only their professional journey but also their final resting place. “We want to be buried in the same urn one day,” they said in 2024, expressing the wish to be laid to rest alongside the ashes of their mother Elsa and their beloved dog Yello.

Born in Saxony in 1936, the Kessler Twins became international celebrities, collaborating with artists such as Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire and enchanting audiences in Italy, Germany, and beyond. Their performances on shows like Canzonissima and Milleluci remain popular on YouTube, and their influence is still celebrated in modern television, as seen recently in homages on Tale e Quale Show.

Broadcaster Enrico Mentana summed up their legacy: “How can you explain to young people today what the Kessler Twins were? A revolution, a force of nature, the symbol of an era and a golden age of Italian TV.”