Magician Roy Horn dies after contracting coronavirus

Roy Horn, a member of the longtime magical duo Siegfried and Roy, died at age 75 after contracting coronavirus.

Horn and his German compatriot, Siegfried Fischbacher, were known to include in their act the inclusion of whiter tigers and other animals.

They started acting in Las Vegas in 1967 and organized sold-out shows at the city’s Mirage Hotel for 14 years.

Horn was forced to stop acting in 2003 after a white tiger attacked him during one of his shows.

“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend,” Fischbacher said in a statement. “From the moment we met, I knew that Roy and I, together, would change the world.”

The German-born couple met while working on a cruise ship: Horn as a butler and Siegfried as a magical artist. They were reportedly fired for bringing a live cheetah to the ship, but soon after they began acting together for another New York-based cruise ship.

The duo’s act then moved onto the European nightclub circuit before being invited to perform in Las Vegas.

Siegfried and Roy became an institution, breaking records for the longest-running act in town. Their shows were combined with magic tricks with circus thrills, with performances by dozens of lions and white tigers.

In 1989, his act moved to the Hotel Mirage, the largest theater in the city. The Mirage continues to house an animal attraction known as Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden.

Horn was seriously injured after one of his tigers bit him on the neck and took him offstage during a performance. He also suffered a stroke.

The incident permanently affected their mobility and speech, but Horn was able to participate in some events before the duo left in 2010.

“Roy was a fighter his whole life, even for the past few days,” said Fischbacher. “I sincerely thank the team of doctors, nurses, and staff at Mountain View Hospital. [in Las Vegas] who heroically worked against this insidious virus. “