Bob Marella
Known for Acting · 76 credits
- Born
- 1937-06-04
- Died
- 1999-10-06
- Place of birth
- Rochester, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Gino Marella · Gorilla Monsoon
Biography
Robert James Marella better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator, and booker.
Monsoon is famous for his run as a super-heavyweight main eventer, and later as the voice of WWE, as commentator and backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s. He also portrayed the on-screen role of WWE President from 1995 to 1997.
In professional wrestling, the staging area just behind the entrance curtain at an event, a position which Marella established and where he could often be found during WWE shows late in his career, is named the "Gorilla Position" in his honor. Although remembered fondly by many viewers, Monsoon was voted Worst Television Announcer a record six times by readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter in the publication's annual awards poll. Marella was married to his wife, Maureen, for more than 40 years and had three children: Sharon (born 1960), Joey (adopted, 1963–1994), and Valerie (born 1966). Victor Quinones (1959-2006) was listed in Gorilla's obituary as his son as well. This was never confirmed officially by Gorilla but the Marella family has acknowledged this after Gorilla's death.
Along with Linda McMahon, Marella was considered as a possible replacement for Vince McMahon as the owner of WWE if McMahon had been found guilty during his 1994 legal trial for illegal steroid use in the company.
On July 4, 1994, his adopted son, Joey Marella, fell asleep at the wheel and died in a car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike, while returning from refereeing a WWE event in Ocean City, Maryland. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Known For
TV Shows (8)
Raw
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWF Wrestling Challenge
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Pay Per View
1985
WWE Old School
1973
as Gorilla Monsoon / Gorilla Monsoon (Commentary)
Tuesday Night Titans
1984
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon (Color Commentator)
Mr. McMahon
2024
as Self (archive footage)
WWE Sunday Night Slam
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
Movies (68)
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
2006
as Gorilla Monsoon
Andre the Giant
2018
as Self (voice) (archive footage)
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
2007
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
2010
as Gorilla Monsoon
Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows
1998
as Gorilla Monsoon (archive footage)
WWE SummerSlam 1997
1997
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
2004
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Hall Of Fame 1995
1995
as Self
WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
2012
as Gorilla Monsoon (archive footage)
The British Bulldogs
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
1997
as Gorilla Monsoon (WWE President)
Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps, & Bodyslams
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Bashed in the USA
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon (Commentator)
The Ultimate Warrior
1989
as Gorilla Monsoon (Commentator)
The Best of the WWF: volume 20
1989
as Gorilla Monsoon
Razor Ramon
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE WrestleFest '93
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
WWE SuperTape: Volume 4
1991
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWF Hulkamania 2
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE World Tour 1992
1992
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
1992
as Gorilla Monsoon
Villains of the Squared Circle
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon (Host)
WWE Crunch Classic
1992
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Paul Bearer's Hits From the Crypt
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE UK Rampage '92
1992
as Gorilla Monsoon
Hulkamania 6
1991
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
German Fan Favorites
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
Demolition: Witness the Power
1989
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
Bret "Hit Man" Hart
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
Jake "The Snake" Roberts
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
Rowdy Roddy Piper's Greatest Hits
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWF Sunday Night Slam • November 20th, 1994
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
Wrestling's Most Embarrassing Moments
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Best of the WWF: volume 12
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Brains Behind the Brawn
1989
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Best of the WWF: volume 14
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
1991
as Gorila Monsoon (Commentator)
Biography: Wrestlemania I
2022
as Self (archival footage)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
1990
as Gorilla Monsoon
Wrestling's Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Hulkster Hulk Hogan
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon
Inside the Steel Cage
1986
as Gorila Monsoon
WWE March to WrestleMania X
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Best of the WWF: volume 13
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1
1990
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE UK Fan Favorites 1993
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon
George "The Animal" Steele
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon
Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
The WWF's Amazing Managers
1985
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
WWE Hall Of Fame 1994
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Funniest Moments
1991
as Gorilla Monsoon
Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Hall Of Fame 1996
1996
as Self
WWE Smack 'Em Whack 'Em
1993
as Gorilla Monsoon
The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches
1987
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
Wrestling Superheroes
1990
as Gorilla Monsoon
Tag Team Champions
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Ultimate Warrior
1992
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE at Madison Square Garden: October 17, 1983
1983
as Gorilla Monsoon (Commentary)
The Undertaker
1994
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE Grudge Match
1986
as Gorilla Monsoon
WWE at Madison Square Garden: June 30, 1973
1973
as Gorilla Monsoon
Women of the WWF
1988
as Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
Wrestling Tough Guys
1990
as Gorilla Monsoon
The Super Bowl of Wrestling
1978
as Gorilla Monsoon
About Bob Marella
Robert James Marella better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play commentator, and booker. Monsoon is famous for his run as a super-heavyweight main eventer, and later as the voice of WWE, as commentator and backstage manager during the 1980s and 1990s. He also portrayed the on-screen role of WWE President from 1995 to 1997. In professional wrestling, the staging area just behind the entrance curtain at an event, a position which Marella established and where he could often be found duri… With 76 credits spanning from 1973 to 2024, Bob Marella has appeared in 68 films and 8 TV shows.
Fans searching for Bob Marella movies, Bob Marella filmography, or the latest projects starring Bob Marella can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Bob Marella Movies
- WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology (2006) — as Gorilla Monsoon
- Andre the Giant (2018) — as Self (voice) (archive footage)
- WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary (2007) — as Gorilla Monsoon
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time (2010) — as Gorilla Monsoon
- Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows (1998) — as Gorilla Monsoon (archive footage)
Where to Watch Bob Marella Films
Most Bob Marella movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Bob Marella, check our movies catalogue and browse page.