Siegfried Fischbacher, of Siegfried & Roy, dies age 81

The magician had reportedly been suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer

epa08937132 (FILE) - Magician Siegfried Fischbacher of Sigfried and Roy delivers a speech after being awarded with the World Award by former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachov (not in picture) during the World-Award gala event in Hamburg, late 22 October 2003. (re-issued 14 January 2021)  According to media reports, magician Siegfried Fischbacher of the duo 'Sigfried and Roy' died at the age of 81.  EPA/KAY NIETFELD    GERMANY OUT *** Local Caption *** 00073878
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Magician Siegfried Fischbacher, best known as one-half of the famous magician duo Siegfried & Roy, with Roy Horn, has reportedly died at the age of 81 after suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer.

This comes eight months after Horn died owing to complications after contracting Covid-19.

Siegfried's sister, 78, confirmed his death to German newspaper Bild, saying: "he fell asleep gently and peacefully".

Siegfried & Roy were an institution in Las Vegas, where they performed their magic in front of sold-out crowds. From February 1990 to October 2003, they performed six shows a week, 44 weeks per year at the Mirage Resort and Casino.

However, it was an horrific incident on October 2003 that the duo might be most remembered for, as Horn was critically injured by a tiger during a show. He had severe neck injuries and later suffered a stroke. The attack led to the end of their long-running show in Las Vegas.

In April 2010, the duo retired from show business.

Back in May 2020, it was announced that Horn had died from complications caused by the coronavirus. He was 75.

"The world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend," Fischbacher said at the time. “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.”