Alice Kessler

Alice Kessler

Known for
Acting
Born
August 20, 1936
Died
November 17, 2025 (aged 89)
Birthplace
Nerchau, Germany

Biography

Alice and Ellen Kessler (born 20 August 1936 in Nerchau, Saxony, Germany) are twin entertainers known in Europe, especially Germany and Italy, from the 1950s and 1960s for their singing, dancing, and acting. They are usually credited as the Kessler Twins (Die Kessler-Zwillinge in Germany and Le Gemelle Kessler in Italy), where they remain popular. The Kessler sisters enjoyed a significant degree of popularity in the US, appearing on national television programs such as The Ed Sullivan Show. The Kesslers made their American television debut on the CBS variety show, The Red Skelton Hour. They also appeared in the 1963 film Sodom and Gomorrah as dancers and were featured on the cover of Life Magazine that same year. Their parents, Paul and Elsa, sent them to ballet classes at the age of six, and they joined the Leipzig Opera's child ballet program at age 11. When they were 18, their parents used a visitor's visa to escape to West Germany, where they performed at the Palladium in Düsseldorf. They performed at The Lido in Paris between 1955 and 1960, where they met Elvis Presley, on leave from the Army on June 17, 1959, and represented West Germany in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in 8th place with Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n (Tonight we want to go dancing). They moved to Italy in 1960 and gradually moved to more serious roles. They became very popular thanks to the RAI television variety show Studio Uno (1961–1966). At the age of 40, they agreed to pose on the cover of the Italian edition of Playboy. That issue became the fastest-selling Italian Playboy to that date. They moved back to Germany in 1986 and live in Grünwald. They have received two awards from both the German and Italian governments for promoting German-Italian cooperation through their work in show business. Source: Article "Kessler Twins" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

Filmography

2016
Ringlstetter poster

Ringlstetter

TV · as self · 1 ep

2015
Wer weiß denn sowas? poster

Wer weiß denn sowas?

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2008
Heimat - Deine Filme

Heimat - Deine Filme

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2008
Markus Lanz poster

Markus Lanz

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2007
Ein Leben wie im Flug

Ein Leben wie im Flug

Movie · as Self

2007
Inas Nacht poster

Inas Nacht

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2006
Lafer! Lichter! Lecker! poster

Lafer! Lichter! Lecker!

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2006
Filmlegenden. Deutsch

Filmlegenden. Deutsch

TV · as Self · 2 eps

2005
Herzlichen Glückwunsch - Die Michael Schanze Jubiläumsgala

Herzlichen Glückwunsch - Die Michael Schanze Jubiläumsgala

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2003
Johannes Heesters: Eine Legende wird 100

Johannes Heesters: Eine Legende wird 100

Movie · as Self

2003
Menschen bei Maischberger

Menschen bei Maischberger

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2002
Ein roter Teppich für....

Ein roter Teppich für....

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2001
Aeschbacher

Aeschbacher

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2000
Menschen der Woche

Menschen der Woche

TV · as Self · 2 eps

2000
Alles Liebe V.I.P.

Alles Liebe V.I.P.

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1998
Alpha Forum

Alpha Forum

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1996
Lukas poster

Lukas

TV · as Alice Kessler · 1 ep

1996
Zimmer frei! poster

Zimmer frei!

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1995
Die Harald Schmidt Show poster

Die Harald Schmidt Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1995
Balko poster

Balko

TV · as Natascha Adomeit · 1 ep

1995
Versteckte Kamera

Versteckte Kamera

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1995
Lebens-Künstler

Lebens-Künstler

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1994
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio poster

alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1994
Die Feste mit Florian Silbereisen poster

Die Feste mit Florian Silbereisen

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1993
Auf eigene Gefahr poster

Auf eigene Gefahr

TV · as Leonore Dreikantl · 1 ep

1992
Riverboat poster

Riverboat

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1991
Boulevard Bio poster

Boulevard Bio

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1991
DAS! poster

DAS!

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1990
Ein Schloß am Wörthersee poster

Ein Schloß am Wörthersee

TV · as Anita Strassberg · 1 ep

1990
Mini Playback Show

Mini Playback Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1990
Pssst ...

Pssst ...

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1988
Alles Nichts Oder?! poster

Alles Nichts Oder?!

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1987
Nachtcafé poster

Nachtcafé

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1986
Showgeschichten

Showgeschichten

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1984
Die verflixte 7

Die verflixte 7

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1982
Wortwechsel

Wortwechsel

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1982
Menschen

Menschen

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1980
Heut' abend poster

Heut' abend

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1979
Die Pyramide

Die Pyramide

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1979
NDR Talk Show poster

NDR Talk Show

TV · as Self · 3 eps

1978
Just a Gigolo poster

Just a Gigolo

Movie · as Dancer (uncredited)

1978
Bio’s Bahnhof

Bio’s Bahnhof

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1977
Auf los geht's los poster

Auf los geht's los

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1976
Domenica In poster

Domenica In

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1976
Kölner Treff poster

Kölner Treff

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1976
Music & Guests poster

Music & Guests

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1975
Treffpunkt Herz

Treffpunkt Herz

Movie · as Gast

1975
Numéro un poster

Numéro un

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1974
Am laufenden Band poster

Am laufenden Band

TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep

1974
Die Montagsmaler poster

Die Montagsmaler

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1973
Klimbim poster

Klimbim

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1973
8 x 1 in Noten

8 x 1 in Noten

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1972
Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich?

Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich?

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1971
Alice und Ellen

Alice und Ellen

Movie · as Self

1971
Dalli Dalli poster

Dalli Dalli

TV · as Self - Contestant · 1 ep

1971
Die diebischen Zwillinge poster

Die diebischen Zwillinge

TV · as Judy · 7 eps

1971
Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre

Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1970
Scene of the Crime poster

Scene of the Crime

TV · as Mutter Bemering · 1 ep

1969
Festival der Stars

Festival der Stars

Movie · as Self

1969
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten

Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1969
Wünsch dir was

Wünsch dir was

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1968
Paris nach Noten

Paris nach Noten

Movie · as Self

1968
Starparade poster

Starparade

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1968
Night-Club

Night-Club

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1967
Andere Zeiten - andere Sitten poster

Andere Zeiten - andere Sitten

Movie · as Self

1966
Continental Showcase

Continental Showcase

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1966
Die Caterina-Valente-Show

Die Caterina-Valente-Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1965
Complexes poster

Complexes

Movie · as Self (segment "Guglielmo il Dentone")

1965
Show - Charme - Chansons

Show - Charme - Chansons

Movie · as Self

1964
The Thursday poster

The Thursday

Movie · as Self

1964
Dead Woman from Beverly Hills poster

Dead Woman from Beverly Hills

Movie · as Tiddy Sister Nr. 2

1964
Songs, Bullies and Chicks poster

Songs, Bullies and Chicks

Movie · as Self

1963
Maskenball bei Scotland Yard poster

Maskenball bei Scotland Yard

Movie · as Kessler-Zwillinge

1963
Perpetuum Musicale - Eine Revue ohne Aufenthalt

Perpetuum Musicale - Eine Revue ohne Aufenthalt

Movie · as Self

1963
The Danny Kaye Show poster

The Danny Kaye Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1962
Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies poster

Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies

Movie · as Tilli

1962
Der Vogelhändler poster

Der Vogelhändler

Movie · as Tänzerin

1962
Sodom and Gomorrah poster

Sodom and Gomorrah

Movie · as Dancer

1962
Lieben Sie Show ?

Lieben Sie Show ?

TV · as Self - Host · 4 eps

1962
Wieder zurück: Siegfried Arno - Eine Musik-Show aus Studio 3

Wieder zurück: Siegfried Arno - Eine Musik-Show aus Studio 3

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1962
Raise Your Glasses

Raise Your Glasses

TV · 1 ep

1961
Erik the Conqueror poster

Erik the Conqueror

Movie · as Rama

1961
Die lachende Dritte

Die lachende Dritte

Movie · as Alice

1961
Rocco e le sorelle poster

Rocco e le sorelle

Movie

1961
Hotel Victoria

Hotel Victoria

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1960
Love and the Frenchwoman poster

Love and the Frenchwoman

Movie · as La jumelle, un mannequin de publicité (segment "L'Adultère")

1960
The Magician poster

The Magician

Movie · as Greta

1959
Stars in der Manege poster

Stars in der Manege

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1959
Discorama poster

Discorama

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1958
Countess Mariza poster

Countess Mariza

Movie · as Ilonka

1958
Mein Schatz ist aus Tirol poster

Mein Schatz ist aus Tirol

Movie · as Li

1958
Der Bettelstudent poster

Der Bettelstudent

Movie · as Mira

1958
Das Posthaus im Schwarzwald poster

Das Posthaus im Schwarzwald

Movie · as Lilli

1958
The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina poster

The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina

Movie · as Tänzerin

1958
Tabarin poster

Tabarin

Movie · as Self

1957
Vier Mädels aus der Wachau poster

Vier Mädels aus der Wachau

Movie · as Franzi

1957
The Count of Luxemburg poster

The Count of Luxemburg

Movie · as Fritzi

1957
Scherben bringen Glück poster

Scherben bringen Glück

Movie · as Margit

1957
Mit Rosen fängt die Liebe an poster

Mit Rosen fängt die Liebe an

Movie · as Liese

1957
Die Zwillinge vom Zillertal poster

Die Zwillinge vom Zillertal

Movie · as Tänzerin

1957
Zum blauen Bock

Zum blauen Bock

TV · as Self · 2 eps

1956
Eurovision Song Contest poster

Eurovision Song Contest

TV · as Self - Germany Contestant · 1 ep

1955
Solang es hübsche Mädchen gibt poster

Solang es hübsche Mädchen gibt

Movie · as Ailce

1948
The Ed Sullivan Show poster

The Ed Sullivan Show

TV · as Self · 1 ep

1948
Bambi poster

Bambi

TV · as Self - Laudation · 1 ep