Illusionist Roy Horn, half of the famous duo Siegfried & Roy, remained in critical condition late Saturday after a tiger attacked him during a Las Vegas show.

Members of the audience at the Mirage Hotel said the tiger bit Horn's neck and dragged him offstage during a Friday night performance.

A spokesperson for University Medical Center said the 59-year-old magician had surgery and was in critical condition.

Siegfried Fisbacher and (right) Roy Horn

When Horn brought the seven-year-old animal on stage, he told the audience it was making its debut appearance. The tiger then lunged at the performer, who tried to knock it back with a microphone.

Some people in the audience thought it was part of the act at first.

Siegfried Fisbacher, the other half of the duo, came on stage to announce the show had been cancelled.

The German-born pair have been performing in Las Vegas for more than 30 years. They recently signed a lifetime contract with the Mirage.