Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy dies of coronavirus at 75


Roy Horn, one-half of the duo Siegfried & Roy, died Friday of complications from the coronavirus at a Las Vegas hospital, his publicist said. He was 75.
Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher, both natives of Germany, began their well-known animal and magic act in Europe in 1957 before becoming prolific performers in Las Vegas for many years.
From 1990 onward, they're believed to have performed 5,000 shows at the Mirage casino for around 10 million fans, eventually inking a lifetime contract with the venue in 2001. The illusionists' production ended in 2003 after Horn was attacked on stage by a white tiger, causing severe injuries. He was eventually able to walk again, allowing the pair to reunite for a comeback charity performance in 2009, which included the same tiger.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Off the stage, Siegfried and Roy gained recognition for their efforts to save white tigers and white lions from extinction.
In reaction to Horn's death, Fischbacher said the "world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend." Read more at CNN and The Associated Press.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Nearly 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding
-
'The way AI is discussed makes it seem like this is a necessary outcome'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read