Siegfried (Siegfried & Roy) Fischbacher Biography

In 1957, while working as a steward on an ocean liner, Fischbacher met Roy Horn, who became his assistant for an impromptu magic show. Soon, the pair were collaborating, upping the ante from making a rabbit disappear to vanishing a cheetah. For the next five years, they performed throughout Europe, playing for little money. They eventually received their big break while performing at a casino in Monte Carlo, where a scout spotted them and invited them to do their act in Las Vegas.

Siegfried and Roy have been combining magic tricks with tiger stunts in Las Vegas for more than 30 years, at first with shared billing and eventually as their own show. In addition to their hugely popular performances, they are active preservationists of white tigers and white lions. The duo has created a special compound outside of Las Vegas for the birthing, care and conservation of these rare animals.

In October 2003, the show was brought to its knees when a white tiger attacked Horn during a performance, leaving the trainer in critical condition. Horn insisted that the tiger was not at a fault, and the show was closed down indefinitely following the incident.

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