Siegfried Fischbacher of Siegfried & Roy dies at 81

(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

published 14 January 2021

Magician Siegfried Fischbacher of the duo Siegfried & Roy has died at 81.

Fischbacher died Wednesday at his home in Las Vegas from pancreatic cancer, his publicist confirmed to The Washington Post. His death comes after Roy Horn, the other half of the duo, died last May from COVID-19.

After beginning their magic act in the 1950s and taking it to Las Vegas in 1967, Siegfried & Roy performed together for more than four decades until 2003, when Horn was attacked by a white tiger during a performance. According to the Post, their career consisted of more than 30,000 performances, and they were among the highest-paid Las Vegas entertainers. The Associated Press also notes they "gained international recognition for helping to save rare white tigers and white lions from extinction," and "their $10 million compound was home to dozens of rare animals over the years."

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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