Highlights
- Bob Woolf, who performed as the Phoenix Suns' Go the Gorilla for 33 years, will be inducted into the World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame this weekend.
- Woolf was the second performer to wear the suit, winning the role at open auditions the Suns held in 1988 to replace original gorilla Henry Rojas.
- He previously earned induction into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2005 and retired the suit in 2021.
- Woolf joins former ASU gymnastics coach Don Robinson, current coach Scott Barclay, and Dr. Joseph Schabacker in the World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame.
Bob Woolf, the man who spent 33 years flipping through the air inside a gorilla suit at Phoenix Suns games, will be inducted into the World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame this weekend in Las Vegas, according to Arizona's Family.
Woolf was the second performer to wear the suit. The Suns held open auditions in 1988 to replace the original gorilla, Henry Rojas, and what started as a short-term gig stretched into more than three decades of trampoline dunks and daredevil stunts. Before landing the role, Woolf competed for Arizona State's men's gymnastics team from 1985 to 1987.
During his tenure, Woolf also used his platform to recruit other former collegiate gymnasts into the mascot profession. He was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame in 2005 and retired the suit in 2021.
The World Acrobatics Society honor places Woolf alongside a group of Arizona gymnastics figures: his college coach Don Robinson, current ASU men's gymnastics coach Scott Barclay, and Dr. Joseph Schabacker, who served as ASU vice president and as president of the U.S. Sports Acrobatics Federation.
The induction ceremony takes place this weekend in Las Vegas.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 01/09/2026 19:21
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 01/09/2026 19:21. Every claim traces to a source.
