COVID-19 has claimed another casualty: Roy Horn, the tiger-loving magician. Alongside his professional and life partner Siegfried Fischbacher, Horn performed under the moniker Siegfried & Roy and became Las Vegas icons.
Born and raised in Germany, Horn grew up with a love for animals, in particular big cats. He and Fischbacher met while working on a cruise ship, and began doing magic together. Their act caught the eye of a producer, who set the pair up with a Las Vegas act in 1967. The two would go on to become arguably the world’s most famous Las Vegas entertainers, performing together into the 2000s. A 2003 tiger attack ended their tenure after Horn sustained brain damage and disfigurement during a performance.
Related: Siegfried, Roy Rumors Mystify
Siegfried & Roy never hid the fact that they were romantically involved during their career together, though generally avoided discussing their personal lives.
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“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend,” Fischbacher said of Horn’s passing in a statement. “From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried. … Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days. I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy’s life.”
Roy Horn contracted COVID-19 in late April. Though he initially responded well to treatment, the virus claimed his life within just two weeks.
RBYapok
Excuse me but Siegfried &Roy did hide their relationship and sexuality for a very long time. Not by just omitting mention of it and claiming they had to live together to take care of the cats. (In a house that made Liberace’s place look like a butch bachelor pad.)
I saw them on the Tonight Show (with Carson) leering at an actresses’ boobs and making awful crude remarks like “I’d like to be between those, ja?” They came out many years after that.
I’ve disliked them ever since.
Vince
It was never a coming out and way late into when no really cared anymore. Even still it was never were gay and btw this is my boyfriend. You still had to read between the lines.
I just never quite got that. Everyone already assumed they were gay. It would have never have been a big deal for them to just come out. Even Liberace had few old hags as his fan base to make his straight facade somewhat believable.
ShiningSex
closet queens are the worst. they were obviously gay.
startenout
Bitter queens are the worst. Just because someone who did no harm to the LGBTQ+ community didn’t live the way you wanted them to live in decades where being openly gay would have ruined them, you are disgusting to jump on their death for your platform. Now go back to Netflix and watch Hollywood where half the characters are doing just that and you’re eating it up.
irenebwebb
This easy job just by giving this job only 2 to 3 hrs a day using my laptop. Everybody on this earth can now get this job and start making more cash online just by follow instructions on this web page…? 6.gp/a738e
rocknstan
Excellent point.
If you saw their MGM Big Cat Habitat, it was clear that they were marketed to the low- and middle-brow, heterosexual base. Publicly, they attempted to be as bourgeois as possible.
With regard to the tragedy, this take-away prevails: You can get a big cat–or any animal for that matter–to jump through your hoops only “X” number of times before it becomes apparent that you re not the Lord and Master of the jungle.
ShiningSex
The Queen is dead. 🙁
Woteva
Well, ONE of them..!
So anyone interested in buying a few fu**ed up lions and tigers that have had totally unnatural lives since birth?
PoetDaddy
Congratulations to the readers of QUEERTY for taking the opportunity of a man’s DEATH to gang up on him for not coming out the way they would would have preferred.
startenout
Seriously! I was waiting to see how long it would take to post something horrible and they did not disappoint.
missvamp
whether you liked them or not, it’s still sad to lose someone else to covid. sadly, i think Siegfried will follow him soon after, due to covid or grief. they’ve been together so long, turtle dove syndrome will take him if not the disease. they may have stayed in the closet too long, but they loved each other regardless. we all knew it.
skie763
So many bitter queens with such nasty comments. A man died. His partner is mourning. His family is sad. He was part of a beloved team that loved animals. They both did a lot for animal rites and donated to supported many charities. Why not just offer your condolences? Why be so mean? Isn’t there enough sadness and cruelty in the world without adding to it?
blackhook
Exotic animals like tigers are NOT for human amusement. It’s beyond time to ban these outrageous circuses & bizarre side shows like white trash Tiger King! #StopAnimalAbuse #FreeTheTigers
Woteva
Absolutely correct. Their act was wrong on so many levels.
Of course the tragedy of his death is something else, but those animals being paraded night after night on stage was obscene. What’s happening to them? I shudder to think because they’ll never be free to live a real life. Spending their entire existence caged up is barbaric.
awsm1965
It is sad that this forum is being used to degrade this man (couple). There was a time not so many years ago when coming out wasn’t acceptable and supported as it is today. Just like many in their time era, it was known, just not spoken about. This tribute should be used to express acknowledgement of a great showman. RIP Roy.
Riverhog
I agree with awsm1965 and others this form is not or should be used to spread hatred or spite the man was human like us all and like him we also have out flaws. He should be remember as a performer and lover of animals and a man who made many smile, laugh and enjoy a little bit time of happiness.
Woteva
‘Profiteering from the exploitation of wild animals’ is closer to the truth. No matter how many $$$ were donated from their enormous/obscene wealth.
ingyaom
Were they a couple? I thought they split up (and started living separate;y years ago).
Scott Amundsen
“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend.”
We know they were more than best friends. Any fool who claims they deceived anyone is talking out their ass.
ScottOnEarth
You miserable, basic queens attacking this amazing couple for not coming out in the 60s and 70s are genuine idiots. Just how far do you think their careers would have gone back then if they publicly discussed their sexuality? They did nothing to be ashamed of and, as wonderfully flamboyant as they were, they touched many Vegas visitors’ lives with their incredible show, and everyone knew they were gay, regardless of what they did or didn’t say. RIP, Roy. You were one-of-a-kind.
RBYapok
My original comment is being severely misinterpreted here.
Being 62 myself I completely understand that these men in their 70s, trying to make it in show business in a very different era, were not ready to come out. When to come out is an individual’s own decision.
My criticism of S&R is that they could have simply said nothing but instead tried to hide it by pretending to be horny heteros and making crude, sexist comments to women.
I remember the actress trying to smile through her interview (which S&R were interrupting to show how manly they were) while being visibly uncomfortable.
The article said they never hid their romantic involvement, implying they were out/not out in a personal and dignified manner. This was not accurate and I felt it should be corrected.
I spent time in the closet, too. I never denigrated women to hide my own sexuality.