May 9, 2020
By: Rick Wilks
Roy Uwe Ludwig Horn, better known as Roy Horn of the famed illusionist duo of Siegfried and Roy has died at the age of 75 from COVID-19 complications.
Siegfried and Roy were German-American magicians and entertainers, who became known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers. Many will remember seeing their famous act on the strip at the Mirage in Las Vegas that started in 1990 and ended in 2003, while others after one of the white tigers, named Montecore, who weighed 600 lbs., mauled Roy.
Recounting the attack 10 years afterward in a rare interview with Las Vegas Weekly, Horn maintained that the massive tiger was only trying to help him.
“I had high blood pressure at that time, and because of the energy level of the show, I got excited and passed out onstage and fell, unfortunately,” Horn explained. “Montecore looked at me with his big blue eyes and was confused, and so he picked me up by the neck. He brought me to the side so he could attend to me.”
Siegfried and Roy retired from show business in 2010.