Siegfried Fischbacher, the renowned illusionist who along with his partner Roy Horn redefined the craft, has passed away at the age of 81.
Siegfried Fischbacher Has Died
The German news agency dpa confirmed the news, reporting Fischbacher’s sister, Sister Dolore, a nun who lives in Munich, said he had passed from cancer at his home in Las Vegas.
She said she talked to her brother on the phone before he died and they prayed together and once the call ended, he went to sleep and died.
German publication Bild noted Fischbacher had been terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, recently undergoing an operation to remove a tumor. He left the hospital at the beginning of 2021 and was being cared for at home by two hospice workers.
The legendary magician’s death comes less than a year after his longtime stage partner Roy Horn died due to complications from COVID-19.
The two Germans met on a cruise ship in the ’50s and did their first show together in 1957. They honed their craft in small clubs in Germany and Switzerland and while performing in a Monte Carlo casino in the ’60s, an agent sitting in the audience invited them to Las Vegas.
Siegfried & Roy’s popular stage show combined illusions and rare animals and spent more than 40 years at The Mirage in Las Vegas. The pair incorporated numerous animal antics into their show, which regularly featured 20 white tigers and lions, plus an elephant and other exotic animals.
Their love for animals was also a big part of their legacy. The duo gained international recognition for saving and protecting rare white tigers and white lions from extinction. In fact, their $10 million compound was home to dozens of rare animals over the years.
Over his career, Fischbacher entertained millions of people and he will always be one of the most respected illusionists to ever grace the stage. Entertainment Hub sends condolences to family, friends, and fans of Siegfried Fischbacher during this difficult time.
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