Ray Heenan

Ray Heenan

Acting

November 1, 1944 — September 17, 2017Chicago, Illinois, USA

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

1993

Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant

2018

WrestleMania

WrestleMania

1985

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

1985

WWE WrestleMania III

WWE WrestleMania III

1987

WCW Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro

1995

WrestleMania II

WrestleMania II

1986

WWE WrestleMania V

WWE WrestleMania V

1989

WWE WrestleMania IV

WWE WrestleMania IV

1988

WWE WrestleMania VI

WWE WrestleMania VI

1990

Acting134

Biography: WWE Legends

Biography: WWE Legends

2021

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage)

Sting: The Lost Tape

Sting: The Lost Tape

2020

Headstrong

Headstrong

2019

Self

Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant

2018

Self (archive footage)

WWE: Ring in the Holiday

WWE: Ring in the Holiday

2015

WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions

WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions

2014

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Warrior's Greatest Matches

Warrior's Greatest Matches

2014

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)

WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak

WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak

2012

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)

The True Story of WrestleMania

The True Story of WrestleMania

2011

Bobby Heenan

WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

2010

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary

2007

Himself

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006

Bobby Heenan

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story

2006

The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

2006

Himself

TNA Turning Point 2005

TNA Turning Point 2005

2005

Bobby Heenan (Commentary)

The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior

The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior

2005

Himself

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

2005

Self

WWE Hall of Fame

WWE Hall of Fame

2005

Self

ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2

ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2

2004

Himself

WWE Hall of Fame 2004

WWE Hall of Fame 2004

2004

Self

The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro

The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro

2004

Himself

WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers

2004

Bobby Heenan

Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules

Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules

2002

Himself

WWE: Triple H - The Game

WWE: Triple H - The Game

2002

Himself

Women of Wrestling

Women of Wrestling

2000

WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!

WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!

1999

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

WCW Thunder

WCW Thunder

1998

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WCW The Great American Bash 1996

WCW The Great American Bash 1996

1996

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)

WCW Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro

1995

Bobby Heenan

WCW All Nighter 1995

WCW All Nighter 1995

1995

Timemaster

Timemaster

1995

Howard

Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches

Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Global Warfare

WWE Global Warfare

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993

WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

All Aboard the Lex Express

All Aboard the Lex Express

1993

Bobby Heenan

WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers

WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Bashed in the USA

WWE Bashed in the USA

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)

WWE UK Rampage '93

WWE UK Rampage '93

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)

WWE WrestleFest '93

WWE WrestleFest '93

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

1993

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)

Raw

Raw

1993

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

WWE World Tour 1992

WWE World Tour 1992

1992

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WBF Championship 1992

WBF Championship 1992

1992

Himself

WWE Crunch Classic

WWE Crunch Classic

1992

Bobby Heenan

WWE UK Rampage '92

WWE UK Rampage '92

1992

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Hulkamania 6

Hulkamania 6

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991

WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Rampage '91

WWE Rampage '91

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall

WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)

2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars

2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE SuperTape: Volume 4

WWE SuperTape: Volume 4

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Mega Matches

WWE Mega Matches

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE WrestleMania VII

WWE WrestleMania VII

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Funniest Moments

WWE Funniest Moments

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE SuperTape: Volume 3

WWE SuperTape: Volume 3

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Royal Rumble 1991

WWE Royal Rumble 1991

1991

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE The Main Event IV

WWE The Main Event IV

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Survivor Series 1990

WWE Survivor Series 1990

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Hottest Matches

WWE Hottest Matches

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Wrestling Tough Guys

Wrestling Tough Guys

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE SummerSlam 1990

WWE SummerSlam 1990

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Battle of the WWE Superstars

Battle of the WWE Superstars

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE SummerSlam Fever

WWE SummerSlam Fever

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE SuperTape: Volume 2

WWE SuperTape: Volume 2

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE WrestleMania VI

WWE WrestleMania VI

1990

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)

WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI

WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Wrestling Superheroes

Wrestling Superheroes

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE SuperTape: Volume 1

WWE SuperTape: Volume 1

1990

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Survivor Series 1989

WWE Survivor Series 1989

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89

WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Hulkamania 4

Hulkamania 4

1989

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

WWE SummerSlam 1989

WWE SummerSlam 1989

1989

Himself

Demolition: Witness the Power

Demolition: Witness the Power

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Best of the WWF: volume 20

The Best of the WWF: volume 20

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Best of the WWF: volume 19

The Best of the WWF: volume 19

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Bobby Heenan Show

The Bobby Heenan Show

1989

The Ultimate Warrior

The Ultimate Warrior

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE WrestleMania V

WWE WrestleMania V

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Brains Behind the Brawn

The Brains Behind the Brawn

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

The Best of the WWF: volume 18

The Best of the WWF: volume 18

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

WWE Royal Rumble 1989

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Hulk Hogan: Real American

Hulk Hogan: Real American

1989

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Survivor Series 1988

WWE Survivor Series 1988

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

The Best of the WWF: volume 17

The Best of the WWF: volume 17

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Macho Madness

Macho Madness

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE SummerSlam 1988

WWE SummerSlam 1988

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Hulkamania 3

Hulkamania 3

1988

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan

WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88

WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE WrestleFest

WWE WrestleFest

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88

WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE WrestleMania IV

WWE WrestleMania IV

1988

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Royal Rumble 1988

WWE Royal Rumble 1988

1988

Bobby "The Brian" Heenan

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

The Best of the WWF: volume 14

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments

Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Survivor Series 1987

WWE Survivor Series 1987

1987

Bobby Heenan

The Best of the WWF: volume 13

The Best of the WWF: volume 13

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Ken Patera Story

The Ken Patera Story

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

Jake "The Snake" Roberts

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

The Best of the WWF: volume 12

The Best of the WWF: volume 12

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWF Hulkamania 2

WWF Hulkamania 2

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE WrestleMania III

WWE WrestleMania III

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Best of the WWF: volume 10

The Best of the WWF: volume 10

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports

1987

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86

WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Best of the WWF: volume 9

The Best of the WWF: volume 9

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWF Wrestling Challenge

WWF Wrestling Challenge

1986

Bobby Heenan

WWF Superstars

WWF Superstars

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE The Big Event

WWE The Big Event

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Villains of the Squared Circle

Villains of the Squared Circle

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WrestleMania II

WrestleMania II

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano

The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano

1986

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

The WWF's Amazing Managers

The WWF's Amazing Managers

1985

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85

WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85

1985

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant

1985

Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

1985

Bobby Heenan / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WrestleMania

WrestleMania

1985

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

WWE Pay Per View

WWE Pay Per View

1985

Best of the WWF Volume 3

Best of the WWF Volume 3

1985

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

1985

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWF Prime Time Wrestling

WWF Prime Time Wrestling

1985

Bobby Heenan (Color Commentator)

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84

1984

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84

WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84

1984

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

Tuesday Night Titans

Tuesday Night Titans

1984

Bobby Heenan / Bobby Heenan (Archive footage)

AWA Christmas Night 1983

AWA Christmas Night 1983

1983

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

AWA Super Sunday

AWA Super Sunday

1983

Bobby Heenan (Manager)

AWA Arena Shows

AWA Arena Shows

1981

Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)

USWA Championship Wrestling

USWA Championship Wrestling

1977

Bobby Heenan

WWE Old School

WWE Old School

1973

Bobby Heenan (Manager) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) / Bobby Heenan / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan / Bobby Heenan (Commentary)