Ray Heenan
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- November 1, 1944
- Died
- September 17, 2017
- Birthplace
- Chicago, 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."
Filmography
Sting: The Lost Tape 2020
Actor
Headstrong 2019
as Self
Andre the Giant 2018
as Self (archive footage)
WWE: Ring in the Holiday 2015
Actor
WWE Greatest Wrestling Factions 2014
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Warrior's Greatest Matches 2014
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Archive Footage)
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak 2012
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
The True Story of WrestleMania 2011
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan 2010
Actor
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary 2007
as Self
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology 2006
as Bobby Heenan
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story 2006
Actor
The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers 2006
as Himself
TNA Turning Point 2005 2005
as Bobby Heenan (Commentary)
The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior 2005
as Himself
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s 2005
as Self
ROH: All Star Extravaganza 2 2004
as Himself
WWE Hall of Fame 2004 2004
as Self
The Monday Night War - WWE Raw vs. WCW Nitro 2004
as Himself
WWE: The World's Greatest Wrestling Managers 2004
as Bobby Heenan
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules 2002
as Himself
WWE: Triple H - The Game 2002
as Himself
WCW/NWO Superstar Series: Diamond Dallas Page - Feel the Bang! 1999
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WCW The Great American Bash 1996 1996
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)
WCW All Nighter 1995 1995
Actor
Timemaster 1995
as Howard
Bret "Hit Man" Hart: His Greatest Matches 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Global Warfare 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
All Aboard the Lex Express 1993
as Bobby Heenan
WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Bashed in the USA 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
WWE UK Rampage '93 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator) / Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Interviewer)
WWE WrestleFest '93 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Host)
WWE Royal Rumble 1993 1993
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Appearance)
WWE World Tour 1992 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WBF Championship 1992 1992
as Himself
WWE Crunch Classic 1992
as Bobby Heenan
WWE UK Rampage '92 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania: The Greatest Hits 1992
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hulkamania 6 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991
WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1991 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Rampage '91 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Commentator)
2nd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Mega Matches 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania VII 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Superstars & Stripes Forever: The March to WrestleMania VII 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Funniest Moments 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 3 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1991 1991
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWF The Main Event IV
WWF The Main Event IV 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1990 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Hottest Matches 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Wrestling Tough Guys 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SummerSlam 1990 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Battle of the WWE Superstars 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- WWE SummerSlam Fever
WWE SummerSlam Fever 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SuperTape: Volume 2 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania VI 1990
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (Manager)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Wrestling Superheroes 1990
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1989 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 4 1989
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
WWE SummerSlam 1989 1989
as Himself
The Best of the WWF: volume 20 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Demolition: Witness the Power 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 19 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Ultimate Warrior 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: May '89 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleMania V 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Brains Behind the Brawn 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 18 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1989 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulk Hogan: Real American 1989
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Survivor Series 1988 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 17 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Macho Madness 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: September '88 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE SummerSlam 1988 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Hulkamania 3 1988
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
- WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: August '88 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE WrestleFest 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88
WWE Los Angeles Wrestling: July '88 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: April '88 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania IV 1988
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
WWE Royal Rumble 1988 1988
as Bobby "The Brian" Heenan
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 14 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1987 1987
as Bobby Heenan
The Ken Patera Story 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 13 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Jake "The Snake" Roberts 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The Best of the WWF: volume 12 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hulkamania 2 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE WrestleMania III 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 10 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports 1987
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86
WWE Houston Wrestling: October '86 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Best of the WWF: volume 9 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE The Big Event 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Villains of the Squared Circle 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WrestleMania II 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano 1986
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
The WWF's Amazing Managers 1985
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: November '85 1985
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Andre the Giant 1985
as Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
WrestleMania 1985
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! 1985
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Best of the WWF Volume 3 1985
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: December '84 1984
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
- WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: October '84 1984
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Christmas Night 1983 1983
as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Manager)
AWA Super Sunday 1983
as Bobby Heenan (Manager)
Credits from TMDB.