Siegfried Fischbacher, a prominent illusionist best known for his work with exotic cats, passed away yesterday due to complications from pancreatic cancer, according to his publicist Dave Kirvin.
Escaping Germany in the midst of World War II, Fischbacher became best known for his work with fellow magician Roy Horn, who passed away earlier this year due to complications from COVID-19. The duo performed at the Mirage Resort for fourteen years and was long regarded as one of the best, and most popular shows Las Vegas had to offer. Along with other acts such as Penn and Teller and David Copperfield, they were instrumental in making Las Vegas the pre eminent location for the best magic shows in the world.
The duo met while aboard a cruise ship, where they were fired and kicked off due to Horn smuggling his pet cheetah onto the ship. What followed, however, was a lifelong partnership that captivated audiences around the world for over 5 decades. Their show at the Mirage regularly sold out what was then the largest theater in the history of Las Vegas, making the duo international superstars.
Their fourteen year run came to an end in 2003 after Horn suffered a spinal cord injury, due to the result of an attack on stage from a white tiger named Mantecore. While the duo then officially announced their retirement from show business in 2010, they continued to have success on the screen rather than the stage, most notably their animated sitcom Father of the Pride.
Rather than send flowers, the Fischbacher family has asked for donations to be made to Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
