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."
Known for
ActingBirthday
November 1, 1944Deathday
September 17, 2017Gender
MaleKnown Movie Credits
77Place of birth
Chicago, Illinois, USAAlso known as
Bobby Heenan, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, The Brain, The WeaselCast credits
WrestleMania
Bobby "The Brain" HeenanWWE: Triple H - The Game
HimselfWrestleMania II
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)WWE WrestleMania III
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)WWE WrestleMania VII
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Bobby "The Brain" HeenanWWE SummerSlam 1989
HimselfWWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
HimselfWWE Survivor Series 1990
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)WWE Survivor Series 1988
Bobby "The Brain" HeenanWWE SummerSlam 1990
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
HimselfWWE: Ring in the Holiday
WWE Hall of Fame 2004
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
Andre the Giant
Self (archive footage)WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers
Bobby HeenanROH: All Star Extravaganza 2
HimselfWWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Himself