Lori and George Schappell, Pennsylvania-born craniopagus twins recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living conjoined twins, died on 7 April 2024 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They were 62 years and 202 days old. Published obituary reports did not disclose a cause of death.
What happened to Lori and George Schappell?
The twins died at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on 7 April 2024, according to reports from Guinness World Records and The Associated Press. Neither published account identified a cause of death, so claims about a specific illness or medical event are not established by the available reporting.
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They were born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on 18 September 1961. Their age at death—62 years and 202 days—made them the longest-lived conjoined twins documented by Guinness.
Why their anatomy was unusual
Lori and George were craniopagus twins, meaning they were joined at the skull. Guinness reports that they shared vital blood vessels and approximately 30% of their brains, including portions of the frontal and parietal regions. Craniopagus twinning accounts for roughly 2% to 6% of conjoined-twin cases, according to Guinness’s 2023 profile.
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George had spina bifida and could not walk. He used a wheelchair-type stool that Lori pushed, while the twins faced opposite directions because of the way their bodies were joined. Their physical dependence in some tasks coexisted with carefully protected personal boundaries.
How rare are conjoined twins?
The Associated Press has reported that conjoined twins occur in approximately one of every 50,000 to 60,000 births. About 70% are female, and most conjoined twins are stillborn. Those figures are broad background statistics, not measurements taken from the Schappells’ case.
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- Publisher: Dover Publications
- Pages: 80
- Publication Date: 1996-02
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The records they held
| Record | What Guinness documented |
|---|---|
| Oldest living conjoined twins | Lori and George were recognized as the oldest living conjoined twins. |
| Oldest female conjoined twins | They held the record after surpassing Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova in 2015. Guinness listed their age for this record as 62 years and 30 days on 18 October 2023. |
The “oldest female” designation reflects the twins’ recorded status before George publicly identified as male. Guinness describes the pair as the first same-sex conjoined twins known to identify as different genders.
George’s gender identity
George was earlier named Dori in accounts of the twins’ childhood. In 2007, George identified as transgender and began using the name George. He should be referred to by that name and with male pronouns when discussing his adult life. Guinness and AP describe the twins’ gender identities as different: Lori remained a woman, while George identified as a man.
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Two people with distinct ambitions
Lori’s bowling career
Lori was able-bodied and became a trophy-winning bowler. Her achievements gave her an identity and social life beyond the medical attention that often surrounded the twins.
George’s country music
George pursued country music professionally and performed around the world. In 1996, AP reported, Lori left hospital-laundry work so George could devote more time to his music career.
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Their different interests were not a contradiction to their shared body. They negotiated schedules, privacy and practical compromises while treating each other as separate people with separate goals.
How they built an independent life
The Schappells worked toward independence rather than pursuing separation surgery. They maintained separate rooms, followed separate bathing schedules and, from age 24, lived in their own residence. Both graduated from a public high school and took college classes.
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They also traveled extensively and appeared in documentaries, talk shows and an episode of the television drama Nip/Tuck. Lori was once engaged; AP reported that her fiancé later died in an automobile accident.
George explained their approach to separation in a 1997 documentary with the question, “Why fix what is not broken?” AP also quoted him as saying, “It was very important to both of us to live as independently as possible.” Their independence meant making joint arrangements without erasing individual privacy, work or relationships.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A life that outlasted early predictions
Doctors did not expect the twins to live into adulthood. Lori later recalled, “When we were born, the doctors didn’t think we’d make 30, but we proved them wrong.” They went on to surpass 60, becoming a documented example of exceptional longevity among conjoined twins.
AP also quoted Lori describing the ethical reasoning behind not attempting separation: “You don’t mess with what God made, even if it means you enjoy both children for a shorter time.” The statement reflects the twins’ reported views, not a general medical rule about every conjoined-twin case.
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Quick Recap
Timeline
- 18 September 1961: Lori and George are born in West Reading, Pennsylvania.
- Age 24: They begin maintaining their own residence and traveling independently.
- 1996: Lori leaves hospital-laundry work so George can pursue country music, according to AP.
- 2007: George identifies as transgender and uses the name George.
- 2015: Guinness recognizes them as the oldest female conjoined twins, surpassing Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova.
- 18 October 2023: Guinness records them at 62 years and 30 days for the oldest-female record.
- 7 April 2024: They die at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
- 12–13 April 2024: Guinness and AP publish death reports without a disclosed cause of death.
What is known—and not known—about their death
- They died on 7 April 2024 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
- They were 62 years and 202 days old.
- The cited published reports did not give a cause of death.
- Those reports also do not establish that separation surgery was attempted or that a particular private medical condition caused their deaths.
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