Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn made the most memorable circus duo in Las Vegas history. The legendary circus and tiger act lasted for over 30 years, and many events happened throughout that time. Some of which have become urban legends. They've even been depicted on shows such as the Simpsons.For decades, many have speculated about the true nature of Siegfried and Roy's relationship. Rumors of a love affair between the two men have circled for years. Given their level of stardom, it's strange that so little about what went on between them has been made public. Here's what we do know...
6 Who Were Siegfried And Roy?
Originating in Germany, Siegfried and Roy were a circus act whose performances were based around magic and tigers.
Their act eventually made its way to Las Vegas, Nevada, where it cemented their fame worldwide.
5 How Did Siegfried And Roy Met?
Both Siegfried and Roy were born in the middle of World War II. Growing up in post-war Germany, the magicians independently desired to one day work in the circus. Siegfried was obsessed with magic, while Roy had an intense interest and obsession with animals.
Siegfried and Roy met as waiters on the passenger ship TS Bremen. It didn't take long for them to perform magic acts together, and the rest is history.
4 Did Siegfried And Roy Date?
While nothing was ever confirmed, there were many rumors that the longtime business partners dated each other.
The rumors originate from two places. One is an essay written in 2008 by Jeffrey L. Bohn titled "Escape To Queer Mountain". The article proclaimed that the two magicians had a secret relationship.
The other was Siegfried and Roy's unflinching support of the LGBTQ+ community throughout their careers. They held performances in honor of the LGBTQ+ community and spoke out during a time when it wasn't popular to do so. On top of that, they dressed similarly to other LGBTQ+ stars from the same time period.
Regardless of whether or not they dated, they were very connected to each other. They had an intense love, even if there was no physical romance at any point in time.
3 Siegfried And Roy Lived Together In The Little Bavaria
Siegfried and Roy lived in Las Vegas way before the current wave of celebrities swarmed the desert city.
While in Europe, Siegfried and Roy traveled a lot and never really had a home. But when they settled down in Las Vegas, they went on to own and live in one of the most famous mansions in the entire world.
The mansion, called Little Bavaria, was located on a patch of land over 100 acres wide. The grassy and palm tree-laden estate stands out among the desert backdrop. The compound even features a gigantic pool and cove at the center of the estate, in a state that struggles to maintain its water supply.
The reason it even exists is that it was built right before a special era of Las Vegas building restrictions existed. Siegfried and Roy have said multiple times that Little Bavaria couldn't even be built under today's Las Vegas codes.
Both Siegfried and Roy called this place their home for multiple decades, until their unfortunate deaths. Now that they've both passed away, the estate has changed significantly.
2 What Happened During The Tiger Incident?
The duo had been performing for decades before a tiger severely damaged Roy during an act in 2003.
One of their white tigers named Mantacore bit into Roy's arm before tackling him. The cat proceeded to swing at Roy while numerous assistants and security tried getting the tiger off of him. Roy struggled to recover for the rest of his life and needed medical care until his passing in 2020. Siegfried took primary care of him, suggesting heavily that they had an intimate relationship.
There are many rumors and stories about the drama that occurred that night. There are conspiracy theories that someone was behind the attack. Many critics have put the blame on Roy for mishandling Mantacore.
There's also a belief that the Simpsons predicted it.
1 When Did Siegfried And Roy Pass Away?
Roy Horn passed away due to COVID-19 in 2020. He was one of many celebrities to lose his life from the virus when it first took over America. Roy was aware of the risks, but didn't want to be hospitalized. He chose to be taken care of at his home. He was 75 years old at the time of his passing.
Siegfried died of cancer in 2021. He had been dealing with the unfortunate illness for an undisclosed amount of time. He announced he had the disease just two days before his death. He was 81 years old at the time of his passing.
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