Five years following the bizarre tiger attack that nearly left Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy dead, Horn, alongside longtime friend and “partner” in magic, Siegfried Fischbacher took the stage again a final show to benefit the Ruvo Institute in Las Vegas.
The performance raised more than $10 million for the institute, of which Fischbacher said, “I’m at a part of my life now where I think I can give something back. And this country and Las Vegas was so good to me for 45 years, and I think that was a perfect reason to do it.”
After all, their act was the biggest show in Vegas, earning $57 million annually during their peak.
Roy almost didn’t live to see his final performance back in October 2003, when Montecore the lion locked his jaws around the magician’s neck and dragged him off stage in a move that is seen as more of an act of assistance rather than aggression. Doctors spent 3 hours bringing the flatlined Roy back to life.
In the following 5 years Roy defied the odds, learning to walk and talk again, despite some paralysis on his left side. Although the duo performed with their beloved tigers on Saturday, Roy does admit that his current state prevents him from keeping up with the big cats, saying, “There’s a little bit of a setback now, because of my condition. I’m not quick like I used to be,” but “My doctor has told me that within one year I will be able to do everything I want to do.”
As a result, the lions and tigers have been removed from their 100 acre compound nicknamed Little Bavaria.
Opening up to 20/20 co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas for Friday’s Siegfried & Roy: The Magic Returns, Siegfried said, “Now I realize … boy, we had an unbelievable career, and we did that all together, and now I’m so grateful for it.”
[Image via WENN.]