Ray Heenan
Biography
Raymond Louis Heenan was an American professional wrestling manager, color commentator, wrestler, and comedian. He performed with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), WWE and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the ring name Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Heenan was known for his skill in elevating villainous on-screen talent by drawing negative reactions for himself and his wrestlers from the crowd. He was paired with numerous wrestlers, including Nick Bockwinkel, whom he led to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, and he became an integral figure in the 1980s professional wrestling boom by managing King Kong Bundy and André the Giant in WWE main event matches with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2 and WrestleMania III respectively. The wrestlers under his tutelage were collectively known as "The Heenan Family" at various times throughout his career. Known for his quick wit and comedic ability, Heenan also served as a color commentator and is remembered for his on-screen repartee with Gorilla Monsoon. Outside of wrestling, Heenan authored two books, appeared on numerous television shows, and briefly hosted a parody talk show titled The Bobby Heenan Show on WWE Prime Time Wrestling. Heenan retired in 2001 at WrestleMania X-Seven after a seventeen-year stint as a commentator in professional wrestling but he continued to make sporadic appearances in several promotions. In 2002, he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which limited his appearances in later years, and died from complications of the disease in 2017. Among other honors, he has been inducted into the Professional Wrestling, WWE, and Wrestling Observer halls of fame. After his death, multiple wrestling commentators described his manager persona as the "greatest professional wrestling manager of all time."
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (45)
Sting: The Lost Tape
2020
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
2018
WWE: Ring in the Holiday
2015
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
2014
Warrior's Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
2014
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
2012
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Bobby Heenan
2011
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
2010
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Himself
2007
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Bobby Heenan
2006
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
2006
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Himself
2006
TNA Turning Point 2005
as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
2005
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
as Himself
2005
The Greatest Stars of the 80's
as Self
2005
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
as Himself
2004
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
2004
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro
as Himself
2004
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Bobby Heenan
2004
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
2002
WWE: Triple H - The Game
as Himself
2002
WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
1999
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
1996
WCW All Nighter 1995
1995
Timemaster
as Howard
1995
Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1993
WWE Global Warfare
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1993
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1993
All Aboard the Lex Express
as Bobby Heenan
1993
Invasion of the Bodyslammers
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1993
WWE Bashed in the USA
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
1993
WWE UK Rampage '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
1993
WWE WrestleFest '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
1993
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
1993
WWE World Tour 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1992
WBF Championship 1992
as Himself
1992
WWE Crunch Classic
as Bobby Heenan
1992
WWE UK Rampage '92
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1992
Hulkamania 6
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
WWE Rampage '91
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
1991
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
WWE Mega Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
1991
