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.
For years, Marella had a custom New Jersey license plate which read "kayfabe
Death and legacy
Marella died on October 6, 1999, of heart failure brought on by complications of diabetes, at his home in Willingboro Township, New Jersey. He was 62 years old. In a tribute that aired on October 11, 1999, on an episode of Raw Is War from the Georgia Dome, McMahon described Marella as "one of the greatest men I have ever known."
He is interred next to his son, Joey Marella, at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson, New Jersey.
WCW commentator Tony Schiavone acknowledged Marella's death on the October 11, 1999, episode of WCW Monday Nitro. Bobby Heenan insisted on doing a tribute to Marella, even though Marella never worked for WCW. Heenan said on-air: "Gorilla will be sadly missed. Now he was one big tough man. He was a decent honest man. And we're all gonna miss him very much. And you know the pearly gates in heaven? It's now gonna be called 'the Gorilla position.' Goodbye, my friend."
Robert Marella was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 1994, on June 9.
When Heenan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, he ended his acceptance speech with a very emotional, "There's only one thing missing, I wish Monsoon was here."
In 2007, when Anthony Carelli made his debut with WWE, as a tribute to Marella, he was given the ring name "Santino Marella".
Filmography
Cast Credits

Mr. McMahon
Character: Self (archive footage)
TV • 2024

Biography: Wrestlemania I
Character: Self (archival footage)
MOVIE • 2022

Andre the Giant
Character: Self (voice) (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2018

WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak
Character: Gorilla Monsoon (archive footage)
MOVIE • 2012

WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 2010

WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 2007

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 2006

WWE: Shawn Michaels - Boyhood Dream
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 2004

Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows
Character: Gorilla Monsoon (archive footage)
MOVIE • 1998

WWE SummerSlam 1997
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1997

WWE In Your House 15: A Cold Day in Hell
Character: Gorilla Monsoon (WWE President)
MOVIE • 1997

WWE Hall Of Fame 1996
Character:
MOVIE • 1996

WWF Sunday Night Slam • November 20th, 1994
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1994

German Fan Favorites 2
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1994

WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams
Character: Gorilla Monsoon (Host)
MOVIE • 1994

WWE Hall Of Fame 1994
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1994

WWE March to WrestleMania X
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1994

WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993
Character: Gorilla Monsoon
MOVIE • 1993

WWF Bashed in the USA
Character: Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
MOVIE • 1993

WWF: WrestleFest '93
Character: Gorilla Monsoon - Commentator
MOVIE • 1993
Crew
Crew Credits
WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1992
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1992

WWE UK Rampage
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1992

WWE U.K. Rampage Tour '92: Munich
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1992

WWE WrestleMania VIII
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1992
WWE March to WrestleMania VIII
Role: Writer
MOVIE • 1992

WWE WrestleMania III
Role: Executive Co-Producer
MOVIE • 1987
WWE Wrestling at The Meadowlands: January '87
Role: Writers' Assistant
MOVIE • 1987

WWE The Big Event
Role: Executive Producer
MOVIE • 1986

The Life and Times of Captain Lou Albano
Role: Thanks
MOVIE • 1986