Local News

Lori and George Schappell, the world's oldest living conjoined twins, dead at 62

By Joe Brandt
April 13, 2024 / 9:32 AM EDT / CBS Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- George and Lori Schappell, who were the world's oldest living conjoined twins, died April 7 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, according to their obituary.

Born Sept. 18, 1961, in West Reading, Pa., the twins were 62 years and 202 days old, nine years older than the second-oldest pair of female-born conjoined twins ever recorded, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lori and George were joined at the head and had separate bodies, making them craniopagus twins. Guinness reported they had partially fused skulls and shared blood vessels and 30% of their brain. While Lori could walk, George had spina bifida and got around through the use of a wheeled stool that Lori would push and steer.

George came out as transgender in 2007. … Prior to transitioning, George at one point used the name Reba after the country artist Reba McEntire.

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Lori and George Schappell

Lori Schappell
George Schappell


Born: September 18, 1961
West Reading, Pennsylvania, US
Died: April 7, 2024 (aged 62)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

Lori and George (formerly Dori) Schappell (September 18, 1961 – April 7, 2024) were American conjoined twins. George performed as a country singer. As of 2020, they were the oldest living conjoined twins in the world. Guinness World Records noted that George's gender transition made Dori and Lori the first set of conjoined twins to identify as different genders.

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