Siegfried Fischbacher, Illusionist Icon of Siegfried & Roy Duo, Dies at 81

Siegfried Fischbacher died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Las Vegas

By Rachel DeSantis January 14, 2021 09:49 AM

Siegfried Fischbacher, the legendary illusionist whose work alongside stage partner Roy Horn made him a household name, has died. He was 81.

Fischbacher died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at his home in Las Vegas, according to a statement from his representative provided to PEOPLE.

Entertainer and Magician. He, along with partner Roy Horn, were magicians and entertainers best known for their appearances with exotic animals, specifically white lions and tigers. The pair rose from war-torn Germany to become world-renowned stars of stage, film and television. As an 8-year-old, he was drawn to a magic after seeing a book on the subject in a shop in Germany. In 1957, he met Horn aboard a cruise ship, where Siegfried was working as a steward and entertainer. He enlisted Horn, the captain's bellboy, to assist during his nightly magic show. What followed was a five-decade partnership. The duo began in Las Vegas in 1967 as a featured act in notable Las Vegas revues before becoming headliners in Beyond Belief at the New Frontier Hotel and Casino in 1981. In 1990, the duo became a Las Vegas legends when their precedent-setting, 14-year run at The Mirage began. The production regularly sold out the then-largest theater in Las Vegas history. Their act came to an abrupt end on Oct. 3, 2003, when a 400-pound white tiger locked its jaws on Horn’s neck and dragged him from the stage. Horn almost died of blood loss, had a stroke and never fully recovered. He died in May of 2020. Fischbacher died from complications related to pancreatic cancer.

Bio by: Louis du Mort

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 14 2021, 18:39:26 UTC