Siegfried and Roy magic star dies at age 81
Siegfried Fischbacher Magician
BORN JUNE 13, 1939 – DIED JANUARY 13, 2021
SIEGFRIED and Roy magician Siegfried Fischbacher has died aged 81 after treatment for pancreatic cancer.
He is believed to have died at his Las Vegas home, eight months after stage partner Roy Horn passed away at 75 from complications linked to Covid-19.
The duo were famed for performing with white tigers and white lions in the 1990s.
Fischbacher was reported to be terminally ill and recently had an operation to remove a tumour.
His death was confirmed by his sister Dolores, a nun in Munich.
She said they had prayed together during phone calls: “I could pray with him and tell him that I will always be with him in my heart.” The German entertainer had reportedly asked to be released from his clinic, to be cared for by two hospice workers, but was unable to see family and friends due to virus restrictions in place.
In a statement at the time of Horn’s death, Fischbacher said: “Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend.
“From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried.
“Roy was a fighter his whole life, including during these final days.
“I give my heartfelt appreciation to the doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy’s life.”
Horn needed to use a wheelchair and was partially paralysed after being attacked by a 29st Bengal tiger in a performance at The Mirage hotel-casino in LasVegas back in 2003.
He suffered severe neck injuries, major blood loss and a stroke.
The attack led to the closure of Siegfried and Roy’s longtime residency on the city strip.