
Ray Heenan
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 Andrรฉ 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."
Known For
Credits
- 2021 ยทBiography: Ultimate Warrioras (archive footage)
- 2021 ยทBiography: WWE Legendsas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage)
- 2020 ยทSting: The Lost Tapeas
- 2018 ยทAndre the Giantas Self (archive footage)
- 2015 ยทWWE: Ring in the Holidayas
- 2014 ยทWWE Greatest Wrestling Factionsas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 2012 ยทWWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streakas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
- 2011 ยทThe True Story of WrestleManiaas Bobby Heenan
- 2010 ยทWWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenanas
- 2007 ยทWWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversaryas Himself
- 2006 ยทWWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthologyas Bobby Heenan
- 2006 ยทWWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Storyas
- 2006 ยทThe World's Greatest Wrestling Managersas Himself
- 2005 ยทTNA Turning Point 2005as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
- 2005 ยทThe Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrioras Himself
- 2004 ยทROH: All Star Extravaganza 2as Himself
- 2004 ยทWWE Hall of Fame 2004as
- 2004 ยทWWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managersas Bobby Heenan
- 2002 ยทHollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rulesas Himself
- 2002 ยทWWE: Triple H - The Gameas Himself
- 2000 ยทWomen of Wrestlingas
- 1999 ยทWCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- 1998 ยทWCW Thunderas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1996 ยทWCW The Great American Bash 1996as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
- 1995 ยทWCW Monday Nitroas
- 1995 ยทWCW Monday Nitroas Bobby Heenan
- 1995 ยทWCW All Nighter 1995as
- 1995 ยทTimemasteras Howard
- 1993 ยทWWF: WrestleFest '93as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
- 1993 ยทWWE Royal Rumble 1993as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
- 1993 ยทRawas
- 1993 ยทRawas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
- 1993 ยทRawas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- 1992 ยทWBF Championship 1992as Himself
- 1992 ยทWWE Crunch Classicas Bobby Heenan
- 1991 ยทWWE Rampage '91as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1991 ยท2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstarsas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1991 ยทWWE SuperTape vol. 4as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1991 ยทWWE Mega Matchesas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1991 ยทWWE WrestleMania VIIas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1991 ยทWWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VIIas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1991 ยทWWE SuperTape vol. 3as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1991 ยทWWE Royal Rumble 1991as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1990 ยทWWE The Main Event IVas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWE Survivor Series 1990as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWF Hottest Matchesas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWE SummerSlam 1990as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทBattle of the WWE Superstarsas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWE SummerSlam Feveras Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWF SuperTape vol. 2as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWE WrestleMania VIas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
- 1990 ยทWWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VIas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1989 ยทWWE Survivor Series 1989as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1989 ยทWWE Survivor Series Showdown '89as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทHulkamania 4as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- 1989 ยทWWE SummerSlam 1989as Himself
- 1989 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 20as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทWWE Demolitionas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 19as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทThe Bobby Heenan Showas
- 1989 ยทThe Ultimate Warrioras Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทWWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทWWE WrestleMania Vas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 18as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1989 ยทWWE Royal Rumble 1989as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1988 ยทWWE Survivor Series 1988as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1988 ยทWWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1988 ยทWWE SummerSlam 1988as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1988 ยทHulkamania 3as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- 1988 ยทWWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1988 ยทWWE WrestleFestas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1988 ยทWWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1988 ยทWWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1988 ยทWWE WrestleMania IVas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1988 ยทWWE The Main Eventas Color Commentator
- 1988 ยทWWE Royal Rumbleas Bobby "The Brian" Heenan (Manager)
- 1987 ยทWrestling's Most Embarrassing Momentsas
- 1987 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 14as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1987 ยทWWE Survivor Series 1987as Bobby Heenan
- 1987 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 13as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1987 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 12as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1987 ยทWWF Hulkamania 2as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1987 ยทWWE WrestleMania IIIas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1987 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 10as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1987 ยทWWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1987 ยทBob Uecker's Wacky World of Sportsas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1986 ยทWWE Houston Wrestling: October '86as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1986 ยทThe Best of the WWF: volume 9as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1986 ยทWWF Wrestling Challengeas Bobby Heenan
- 1986 ยทWWE The Big Eventas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1986 ยทWWE Villains of The Squared Circleas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1986 ยทWrestleMania IIas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1985 ยทAndre the Giantas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
- 1985 ยทWWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1985 ยทWrestleManiaas Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1985 ยทWWF's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongestas Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- 1985 ยทBest of the WWF Volume 3as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1984 ยทWWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- 1984 ยทWWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1983 ยทAWA Christmas Night 1983as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- 1983 ยทAWA Super Sundayas Bobby Heenan (Manager)