Ray Heenan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 1, 1944
- Died
- September 17, 2017 (aged 72)
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
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
Biography: WWE Legends
TV · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage) · 1 ep
Sting: The Lost Tape
Movie
Headstrong
Movie · as Self
Andre the Giant
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
WWE: Ring in the Holiday
Movie
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Warrior's Greatest Matches
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
The True Story of WrestleMania
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
Movie
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Movie · as Self
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
Movie
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
Movie · as Himself
TNA Turning Point 2005
Movie · as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
Movie · as Himself
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Movie · as Self
WWE Hall of Fame
TV · as Self · 1 ep
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
Movie · as Self
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
Movie · as Himself
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro
Movie · as Himself
WWE: Triple H - The Game
Movie · as Himself
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Movie · as Himself
Women of Wrestling
TV · 23 eps
WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang!
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WCW Thunder
TV · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan · 8 eps
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
Timemaster
Movie · as Howard
WCW All Nighter 1995
Movie
WCW Monday Nitro
TV · as Bobby Heenan · 262 eps
WWE WrestleFest '93
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
WWE Royal Rumble 1993
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
WWE Bashed in the USA
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Rampage '93
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Global Warfare
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
All Aboard the Lex Express
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
Raw
TV · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan · 1 ep
WWE Crunch Classic
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
WBF Championship 1992
Movie · as Himself
WWE World Tour 1992
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Rampage '92
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 3
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Mega Matches
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Rampage '91
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania VII
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 6
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
WWE Funniest Moments
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Battle of the WWE Superstars
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Hottest Matches
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 2
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1990
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania VI
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam Fever
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWF The Main Event IV
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Wrestling Superheroes
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling Tough Guys
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Demolition: Witness the Power
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ultimate Warrior
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Movie · as Himself
Hulkamania 4
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 18
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 19
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1989
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania V
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulk Hogan: Real American
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Brains Behind the Brawn
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Bobby Heenan Show
TV · 4 eps
WWE Survivor Series 1988
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hulkamania 3
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1988
Movie · as Bobby "The Brian" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania IV
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleFest
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Macho Madness
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 17
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania III
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 2
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 10
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 13
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1987
Movie · as Bobby Heenan
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ken Patera Story
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania II
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Villains of the Squared Circle
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Big Event
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWF Wrestling Challenge
TV · as Bobby Heenan · 218 eps
WWF Superstars
TV · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan · 166 eps
WrestleMania
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Best of the WWF Volume 3
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Andre the Giant
Movie · as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The WWF's Amazing Managers
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
TV · as Bobby Heenan, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) · 4 eps
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
TV · as Bobby Heenan (Color Commentator) · 1 ep
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Tuesday Night Titans
TV · as Bobby Heenan, Bobby Heenan (Archive footage) · 27 eps
AWA Super Sunday
Movie · as Bobby Heenan (Manager)
AWA Christmas Night 1983
Movie · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Arena Shows
TV · as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager) · 2 eps
USWA Championship Wrestling
TV · as Bobby Heenan · 1 ep
WWE Old School
TV · as Bobby Heenan (Manager), Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager), Bobby Heenan (Commentary) · 2 eps