Roy Horn (L), depicted with Siegried Fischbacher, of the iconic magic group Siegfried & Roy, died on May 8, 2020 of complications from COVID-19.
Celebrities are mourning the death of Roy Horn, one half of the famed Las Vegas magic group Siegfried & Roy, who died on Friday from complications of COVID-19 at age 75.
“Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend,” Siegfried Fischbacher said in a statement published by Variety. “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.”
Horn’s publicist confirmed the death to the New York Times on Friday, not long after sharing his diagnosis with ABC News in April.
Siegfried & Roy’s 1989 act ended in 2003 when Horn was mauled onstage by a 400-pound tiger named Mantecore. Horn suffered both a stroke and partial paralysis and the injuries he sustained were lifelong. However, Horn always defended Mantecore, even referring to the animal as his “lifesaver.”
Since the announcement, there has been an outpouring of grief on social media from both celebrities and fans.
Magician Criss Angel tweeted a video of himself standing under a painting of the duo, saying, “Magic has had one of the biggest losses” adding, “No words can put into meaning how much Siegfried & Roy has meant to me and my career and to my life and to the dream of Vegas.” He said the group had always been kind to him “when no one knew who the hell I was.”
Criss Angel✔@CrissAngel
Mr. Roy Horn, Thank You for your kindness, inspiration and friendship. You paved the road and will forever be missed. May we meet again one day... Love, Criss
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Penn Jillette, of the comedy group Penn & Teller, also mourned the loss of Horn and, like Angel, credited him with paving the path for his career. “If not for S&R there would be no P&T in Vegas,” Jillette tweeted. “He was so full of life, wild, and unpredictable. We will miss him.”
Penn Jillette✔@pennjillette
We are all mourning the loss of #RoyHorn of #SiegfriedandRoy. S&R invented, created, pioneered the very idea that a magic show could be a full evening in Vegas. If not for S&R there would be no P&T in Vegas. He was so full of life, wild, and unpredictable. We will miss him.
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Illusionist David Blaine also shared a memory on Instagram: “So sorry to hear about the loss of Roy, a very pivotal magician that opened the doors for many of us,” he wrote. “In this photo I asked both Siegfried and Roy to do a serious pose (it was tough for Siegfried but Roy managed!)” Blaine recalled receiving a bouquet of flowers from the men, calling them “gracious.”
He added, “At one of their shows, they stopped mid-show, put a spotlight on me (pretty embarrassing) and said some very kind words. Thank you Roy for your contribution to the art. You will be missed but never forgotten.”
NBC News anchor Maria Shriver, also shared a video of