Roy Horn's biography:
Roy Horn grew up in a tumultuous environment, with his father being a drug addict. He was forced to run away from home at a young age and found solace in the world of big cats. He began working at a zoo, where he befriended a cheetah named Chico and discovered his talent for dressage. Combining his skills with magic tricks, Roy became an entertainer and steward on the German luxury liner TS-Bremen in 1959. He dropped out of school early to pursue his career and met Siegfried Fischbacher, who shared his passion for magic.
The two performers began working together, with Chico the cheetah becoming a central part of their act. They debuted on stage in 1964 at the Astoria Theater and went on to tour through Germany and Switzerland. Their unique combination of magic and big cats proved to be a hit, and they started their first European tour in 1965. They soon gained international recognition, performing in Puerto Rico and Las Vegas, and were awarded the prize for "Best Stage Show of the Year" in 1972.
Throughout their career, Siegfried & Roy became known for their spectacular shows, which featured not only cheetahs but also tigers. However, they faced criticism for allegedly exploiting and degrading the big cats. Despite this, they made it their mission to breed and protect the white Bengal tiger, and their efforts were recognized with the "Best Magicians of the Year" award in 1976.
Siegfried & Roy's career continued to thrive, with their show SARMOTI becoming the most successful program in the United States. They opened the "Secret Garden" at the Mirage hotel complex in Las Vegas, a habitat for exotic animals from around the world. In 2000, they were voted the best magicians of the decade, ahead of David Copperfield.
Tragedy struck on October 3, 2003, when Roy Horn was critically injured by the white tiger Montecore during a stage show. He suffered a stroke and underwent treatment for several days, but ultimately did not recover. The two performers continued to work together, albeit at a reduced level, and ended their stage careers in 2009 with a ten-minute show featuring Montecore.
