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  • BIRTH 01/11/1944
  • DEATH 17/09/2017
  • Country United States
  • SHOWS 4
  • MOVIES 6

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."

Ray Heenan

Shows (4)

WWE Raw
WWE Raw
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan / Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan (archive footage)
Biography: WWE Legends
Biography: WWE Legends
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (archive footage)
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Bobby Heenan
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan

Movies (6)

WWE WrestleFest
WWE WrestleFest
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WBF Championship 1992
WBF Championship 1992
Himself
WWE Survivor Series 1989
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
WWE Survivor Series 1988
WWE Survivor Series 1988
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Hollywood Hulk Hogan: Hulk Still Rules
Himself
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
Bobby "The Brain" Heenan (Coach)