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."

Known For

Raw

Raw

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWF Superstars

WWF Wrestling Challenge

WWE Pay Per View

All Movies (118)

• Sting: The Lost Tape2020
• Headstrong2019 · as Self
• Andre the Giant2018 · as Self (archive footage)
• WWE: Ring in the Holiday2015
• WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions2014 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Warrior's Greatest Matches2014 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
• WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak2012 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
• The True Story of WrestleMania2011 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan2010
• WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary2007 · as Himself
• WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology2006 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story2006
• The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers2006 · as Himself
• TNA Turning Point 20052005 · as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
• The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior2005 · as Himself
• The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s2005 · as Self
• ROH: All Star Extravaganza 22004 · as Himself
• WWE Hall of Fame 20042004 · as Self
• The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro2004 · as Himself
• WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers2004 · as Bobby Heenan
• Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules2002 · as Himself
• WWE: Triple H - The Game2002 · as Himself
• WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!1999 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
• WCW The Great American Bash 19961996 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
• WCW All Nighter 19951995
• Timemaster1995 · as Howard
• Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches1993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Global Warfare1993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE UK Fan Favorites 19931993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• All Aboard the Lex Express1993 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers1993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Bashed in the USA1993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
• WWE UK Rampage '931993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
• WWE WrestleFest '931993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
• WWE Royal Rumble 19931993 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
• WWE World Tour 19921992 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WBF Championship 19921992 · as Himself
• WWE Crunch Classic1992 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE UK Rampage '921992 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Hulkamania 61991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Survivor Series Showdown 19911991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Rampage '911991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
• 2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE SuperTape: Volume 41991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Mega Matches1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE WrestleMania VII1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Funniest Moments1991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE SuperTape: Volume 31991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Royal Rumble 19911991 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE The Main Event IV1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Survivor Series 19901990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Hottest Matches1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Wrestling Tough Guys1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE SummerSlam 19901990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Battle of the WWE Superstars1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE SummerSlam Fever1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE SuperTape: Volume 21990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE WrestleMania VI1990 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
• WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Wrestling Superheroes1990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE SuperTape: Volume 11990 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Survivor Series 19891989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Survivor Series Showdown '891989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Hulkamania 41989 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
• WWE SummerSlam 19891989 · as Himself
• Demolition: Witness the Power1989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Best of the WWF: volume 201989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Best of the WWF: volume 191989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Ultimate Warrior1989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '891989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE WrestleMania V1989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Brains Behind the Brawn1989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• The Best of the WWF: volume 181989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Royal Rumble 19891989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Hulk Hogan: Real American1989 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Survivor Series 19881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• The Best of the WWF: volume 171988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Macho Madness1988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE SummerSlam 19881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Hulkamania 31988 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
• WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE WrestleFest1988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '881988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE WrestleMania IV1988 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Royal Rumble 19881988 · as Bobby "The Brian" Heenan
• The Best of the WWF: volume 141987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Survivor Series 19871987 · as Bobby Heenan
• The Best of the WWF: volume 131987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Ken Patera Story1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Jake "The Snake" Roberts1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• The Best of the WWF: volume 121987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWF Hulkamania 21987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE WrestleMania III1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Best of the WWF: volume 101987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '871987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports1987 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Houston Wrestling: October '861986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Best of the WWF: volume 91986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE The Big Event1986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Villains of the Squared Circle1986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WrestleMania II1986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano1986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• The WWF's Amazing Managers1985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '851985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Andre the Giant1985 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
• WrestleMania1985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• Best of the WWF Volume 31985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!1985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '841984 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '841984 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• AWA Christmas Night 19831983 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• AWA Super Sunday1983 · as Bobby Heenan (Manager)

All TV Shows (25)

• Biography: WWE Legends2021 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage)
• WWE Hall of Fame2005 · as Self
• Women of Wrestling2000
• WCW Thunder1998 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WCW Monday Nitro1995
• WCW Monday Nitro1995 · as Bobby Heenan
• Raw1993
• Raw1993 · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
• The Bobby Heenan Show1989
• WWF Wrestling Challenge1986 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWF Superstars1986 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event1985
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event1985 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event1985 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Pay Per View1985
• WWF Prime Time Wrestling1985 · as Bobby Heenan (Color Commentator)
• Tuesday Night Titans1984 · as Bobby Heenan
• Tuesday Night Titans1984 · as Bobby Heenan (Archive footage)
• AWA Arena Shows1981 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• USWA Championship Wrestling1977 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE Old School1973 · as Bobby Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Old School1973 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
• WWE Old School1973 · as Bobby Heenan
• WWE Old School1973 · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
• WWE Old School1973 · as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)