Roy Horn, of Siegfried & Roy—the duo whose magic tricks with big cats astonished millions until Horn was critically injured in 2003 by Montecore, one of the act's famed white tigers—has died of coronavirus complications, media reports announced. He was 75.

"Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend," partner Siegfried Fischbacher said in a statement, according to The Chicago Tribune. "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."

Born in Germany, Horn met Fischbacher on a cruise ship in 1957. Fischbacher performed the magic tricks, while Horn became his assistant, eventually suggesting using a cheetah in the act. They perfected their act in Europe, debuting in Las Vegas in the 1960s.

The Tribune article is at Website Link Here .