A tiger attacked magician Roy Horn of the duo Siegfried and Roy, grabbing him by his throat during a Friday-night performance at the Mirage hotel-casino in Las Vegas, authorities said.
Horn was taken to University Medical Centre, where he was listed in critical condition, said hospital spokesperson Cheryl Persinger.
Firefighters were called to the hotel-casino at about 8.45pm and found Horn had been attacked, said Clark County Fire spokesperson Bob Leinbach.
The illusionists, who put on one of the best-known and expensive Las Vegas shows with their signature white tigers and lions, signed a lifetime contract with the Mirage in 2001.
Siegfried Fishbachler (64) and Horn (59) have performed together in Las Vegas for more than 30 years. They opened at the Mirage hotel-casino in February 1990. — Sapa-AP