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 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."
Filmography
Sting: The Lost Tape
Sting: The Lost Tape
Headstrong
as Self
Headstrong
as Self
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
Andre the Giant
as Self (archive footage)
WWE: Ring in the Holiday
WWE: Ring in the Holiday
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Warrior's Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
Warrior's Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Bobby Heenan
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Himself
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Himself
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Himself
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Himself
TNA Turning Point 2005
as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
TNA Turning Point 2005
as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
as Himself
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
as Himself
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
as Self
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
as Self
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
as Himself
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
as Himself
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
as Self
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
as Self
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro
as Himself
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro
as Himself
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
as Bobby Heenan
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
as Himself
WWE: Triple H - The Game
as Himself
WWE: Triple H - The Game
as Himself
WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
WCW All Nighter 1995
WCW All Nighter 1995
Timemaster
as Howard
Timemaster
as Howard
Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Global Warfare
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Global Warfare
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
All Aboard the Lex Express
as Bobby Heenan
All Aboard the Lex Express
as Bobby Heenan
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Bashed in the USA
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
WWE Bashed in the USA
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
WWE UK Rampage '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
WWE UK Rampage '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
WWE WrestleFest '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
WWE WrestleFest '93
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
WWE World Tour 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE World Tour 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WBF Championship 1992
as Himself
WBF Championship 1992
as Himself
WWE Crunch Classic
as Bobby Heenan
WWE Crunch Classic
as Bobby Heenan
WWE UK Rampage '92
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Rampage '92
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hulkamania 6
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hulkamania 6
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Rampage '91
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Rampage '91
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Mega Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Mega Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania VII
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania VII
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Funniest Moments
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Funniest Moments
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 3
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 3
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE The Main Event IV
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Main Event IV
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Hottest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Hottest Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Wrestling Tough Guys
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling Tough Guys
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SummerSlam 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam Fever
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam Fever
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 2
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 2
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania VI
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania VI
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling Superheroes
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling Superheroes
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 4
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
Hulkamania 4
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE SummerSlam 1989
as Himself
WWE SummerSlam 1989
as Himself
Demolition: Witness the Power
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Demolition: Witness the Power
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ultimate Warrior
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ultimate Warrior
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania V
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania V
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Brains Behind the Brawn
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Brains Behind the Brawn
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 18
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 18
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulk Hogan: Real American
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulk Hogan: Real American
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Macho Madness
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Macho Madness
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 3
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
Hulkamania 3
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleFest
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleFest
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania IV
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania IV
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
as Bobby "The Brian" Heenan
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
as Bobby "The Brian" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1987
as Bobby Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1987
as Bobby Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 13
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 13
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ken Patera Story
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Ken Patera Story
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWF Hulkamania 2
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWF Hulkamania 2
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania III
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania III
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE The Big Event
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Big Event
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Villains of the Squared Circle
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Villains of the Squared Circle
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania II
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WrestleMania II
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The WWF's Amazing Managers
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The WWF's Amazing Managers
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Andre the Giant
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
Andre the Giant
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
WrestleMania
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WrestleMania
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Best of the WWF Volume 3
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Best of the WWF Volume 3
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Christmas Night 1983
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Christmas Night 1983
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Super Sunday
as Bobby Heenan (Manager)
AWA Super Sunday
as Bobby Heenan (Manager)