Ellen Kessler
Known for Acting · 105 credits
- Born
- 1936-08-20
- Died
- 2025-11-17
- Place of birth
- Nerchau, Germany
- Also known as
- Kessler Twins
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.
Known For
TV Shows (69)
Scene of the Crime
1970
as Mutter Bemering
DAS!
1991
as Self
Markus Lanz
2008
as Self
Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
as Self
NDR Talk Show
1979
as Self
Kölner Treff
1976
as Self
Alpha Forum
1998
as Self
Riverboat
1992
as Self
Bambi
1948
as Self - Laudation
Zimmer frei!
1996
as Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
Eurovision Song Contest
1956
as Self - Contestant
Menschen bei Maischberger
2003
as Self
Nachtcafé
1987
as Self
Wer weiß denn sowas?
2015
as Self
Numéro un
1975
as Self
Aeschbacher
2001
as Self
Dalli Dalli
1971
as Self - Contestant
Zum blauen Bock
1957
as Self
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio
1994
as Self
Menschen der Woche
2000
as Self
Discorama
1959
as Self
Die Montagsmaler
1974
as Self
Lafer! Lichter! Lecker!
2006
as Self
Inas Nacht
2007
as Self
Heut' abend
1980
as Self
Boulevard Bio
1991
as Self
Die Feste mit Florian Silbereisen
1994
as Self
The Danny Kaye Show
1963
as Self
Ringlstetter
2016
as self
Die Pyramide
1979
as Self
Balko
1995
as Ira Adomeit
Stars in the Ring
1959
as Self
Wortwechsel
1982
as Self
Domenica In
1976
as Self
Menschen
1982
as Self
Versteckte Kamera
1995
as Self
Auf los geht's los
1977
as Self
Alles Nichts Oder?!
1988
as Self
Mini Playback Show
1990
as Self
Auf eigene Gefahr
1993
as Lucie Grindel
Pssst ...
1990
as Self
Showgeschichten
1986
as Self
Starparade
1968
as Self
Bio’s Bahnhof
1978
as Self
Music & Guests
1976
as Self
Am laufenden Band
1974
as Self - Guest
Ein Schloß am Wörthersee
1990
as Erika Strassberg
Klimbim
1973
as Self
Lukas
1996
as Ellen Kessler
Night-Club
1968
as Self
Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1969
as Self
Wünsch dir was
1969
as Self
Lebens-Künstler
1995
as Self
Hätten Sie heut’ Zeit für mich?
1972
as Self
Die verflixte 7
1984
as Self
Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre
1971
as Self
Ein roter Teppich für....
2002
as Self
Continental Showcase
1966
as Self
Hotel Victoria
1961
as Self
Movies (36)
Sodom and Gomorrah
1962
as Dancer
The Thursday
1964
as Self
Erik the Conqueror
1961
as Daya
Countess Mariza
1958
as Rosika
Just a Gigolo
1978
as Dancer (uncredited)
Der Vogelhändler
1962
as Tänzerin
Complexes
1965
as Self (segment "Guglielmo il Dentone")
Johannes Heesters: Eine Legende wird 100
2003
as Self
Ein Leben wie im Flug
2007
as Self
Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies
1962
as Milli
Solang es hübsche Mädchen gibt
1955
as Ellen
Dead Woman from Beverly Hills
1964
as Tiddy Sister Nr. 1
The Beautiful Legs of Sabrina
1958
as Tänzerin
Songs, Bullies and Chicks
1964
as Self
Rocco e le sorelle
1961
Love and the Frenchwoman
1960
as L'autre jumelle, un mannequin de publicité (segment "L'Adultère")
The Magician
1960
as Hildegarde
Mit Rosen fängt die Liebe an
1957
as Lotte
Andere Zeiten - andere Sitten
1967
as Self
Playgirl
1966
as Self
Mein Schatz ist aus Tirol
1958
as Lo
Vier Mädels aus der Wachau
1957
as Hanni
Maskenball bei Scotland Yard
1963
as Kessler-Zwillinge
Die Zwillinge vom Zillertal
1957
as Tänzerin
The Count of Luxemburg
1957
as Franzi
Tabarin
1958
as Self
Treffpunkt Herz
1975
as Gast
Paris nach Noten
1968
as Self
Der Bettelstudent
1958
as Katja
Scherben bringen Glück
1957
as Flora Fleuron
Das Posthaus im Schwarzwald
1958
as Cilli
Die lachende Dritte
1961
as Ellen
Perpetuum Musicale - Eine Revue ohne Aufenthalt
1963
as Self
Show - Charme - Chansons
1965
as Self
Festival der Stars
1969
as Self
Alice und Ellen
1971
as Self
About Ellen Kessler
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… With 105 credits spanning from 1948 to 2016, Ellen Kessler has appeared in 36 films and 69 TV shows.
Fans searching for Ellen Kessler movies, Ellen Kessler filmography, or the latest projects starring Ellen Kessler can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Ellen Kessler Movies
- Sodom and Gomorrah (1962) — as Dancer
- The Thursday (1964) — as Self
- Erik the Conqueror (1961) — as Daya
- Countess Mariza (1958) — as Rosika
- Just a Gigolo (1978) — as Dancer (uncredited)
Where to Watch Ellen Kessler Films
Most Ellen Kessler movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Ellen Kessler, check our movies catalogue and browse page.