Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
November 1, 1944
Place of Birth:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Social Media
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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sting: The Lost Tape | |
| 2018 | Andre the Giant | Self (archive footage) |
| 2015 | WWE: Ring in the Holiday | |
| 2014 | WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 2014 | Warrior's Greatest Matches | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage) |
| 2012 | WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage) |
| 2011 | The True Story of WrestleMania | Bobby Heenan |
| 2010 | WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan | |
| 2007 | WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary | Himself |
| 2006 | WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story | |
| 2006 | WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology | Bobby Heenan |
| 2006 | The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers | Himself |
| 2005 | TNA Turning Point 2005 | Bobby Heenan (Commentary) |
| 2005 | The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior | Himself |
| 2005 | The Greatest Stars of the 80's | Self |
| 2004 | WWE Hall of Fame 2004 | Self |
| 2004 | WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers | Bobby Heenan |
| 2004 | ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2 | Himself |
| 2004 | The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro | Himself |
| 2002 | WWE: Triple H - The Game | Himself |
| 2002 | Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules | Himself |
| 1999 | WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang! | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1996 | WCW The Great American Bash 1996 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach) |
| 1995 | Timemaster | Howard |
| 1995 | WCW All Nighter 1995 | |
| 1993 | WWE WrestleFest '93 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host) |
| 1993 | WWE Royal Rumble 1993 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance) |
| 1993 | WWE Bashed in the USA | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) |
| 1993 | Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1993 | Invasion of the Bodyslammers | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1993 | WWE UK Rampage '93 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer) |
| 1993 | WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1993 | WWE Global Warfare | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1993 | All Aboard the Lex Express | Bobby Heenan |
| 1992 | WWE Crunch Classic | Bobby Heenan |
| 1992 | WBF Championship 1992 | Himself |
| 1992 | WWE World Tour 1992 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1992 | WWE UK Rampage '92 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | 2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE SuperTape: Volume 3 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1991 | WWE SuperTape: Volume 4 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE Mega Matches | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE Rampage '91 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE WrestleMania VII | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1991 | WWE Royal Rumble 1991 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1991 | Hulkamania 6 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) |
| 1991 | WWE Funniest Moments | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1991 | WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1990 | Battle of the WWE Superstars | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE Hottest Matches | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE SuperTape: Volume 2 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE Survivor Series 1990 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE SummerSlam 1990 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1990 | WWE WrestleMania VI | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE SummerSlam Fever | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | WWE The Main Event IV | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1990 | Wrestling Superheroes | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1990 | Wrestling Tough Guys | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1990 | WWE SuperTape: Volume 1 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1989 | Demolition: Witness the Power | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | The Ultimate Warrior | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | WWE SummerSlam 1989 | Himself |
| 1989 | Hulkamania 4 | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1989 | The Best of the WWF: volume 18 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | The Best of the WWF: volume 19 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | The Best of the WWF: volume 20 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | WWE Royal Rumble 1989 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | WWE WrestleMania V | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | WWE Survivor Series 1989 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1989 | WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | Hulk Hogan: Real American | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1989 | The Brains Behind the Brawn | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1988 | WWE Survivor Series 1988 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1988 | Hulkamania 3 | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1988 | WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1988 | WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1988 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1988 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1988 | WWE Royal Rumble 1988 | Bobby "The Brian" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1988 | WWE WrestleMania IV | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1988 | WWE WrestleFest | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1988 | WWE SummerSlam 1988 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1988 | WrestleMania IV | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1988 | Macho Madness | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | WWE WrestleMania III | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | WWF Hulkamania 2 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 10 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 13 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 12 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | The Best of the WWF: volume 14 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | WWE Survivor Series 1987 | Bobby Heenan |
| 1987 | WrestleMania III | Bobby Heenan |
| 1987 | The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1987 | The Ken Patera Story | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1987 | Jake "The Snake" Roberts | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1986 | WrestleMania II | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1986 | Villains of the Squared Circle | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1986 | The Best of the WWF: volume 9 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1986 | WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1986 | WWE The Big Event | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1986 | WrestleMania 2 | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1986 | The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1985 | WrestleMania | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1985 | Best of the WWF Volume 3 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1985 | Andre the Giant | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage) |
| 1985 | Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1985 | WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1985 | The WWF's Amazing Managers | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1984 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1984 | WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1983 | AWA Super Sunday | Bobby Heenan (Manager) |
| 1983 | AWA Christmas Night 1983 | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Biography: WWE Legends | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage) |
| 2005 | WWE Hall of Fame | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Presenter) |
| 2000 | Women of Wrestling | |
| 1998 | WCW Thunder | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1995 | WCW Monday Nitro | |
| 1995 | WCW Monday Nitro | Bobby Heenan |
| 1993 | Raw | |
| 1993 | Raw | Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan |
| 1989 | The Bobby Heenan Show | |
| 1988 | WWE The Main Event | Color Commentator |
| 1986 | WWF Wrestling Challenge | Bobby Heenan |
| 1985 | Saturday Night's Main Event | |
| 1985 | Saturday Night's Main Event | Bobby Heenan |
| 1985 | WWF Prime Time Wrestling | Bobby Heenan (Color Commentator) |
| 1985 | Saturday Night's Main Event | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1984 | Tuesday Night Titans | Bobby Heenan |
| 1984 | Tuesday Night Titans | Bobby Heenan (Archive footage) |
| 1981 | AWA Arena Shows | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1973 | WWE Old School | Bobby Heenan (Manager) |
| 1973 | WWE Old School | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) |
| 1973 | WWE Old School | Bobby Heenan |
| 1973 | WWE Old School | Bobby "The Brain" Heenan |
| 1973 | WWE Old School | Bobby Heenan (Commentary) |