Maris Valainis
Encyclopedia
Maris Valainis is an American construction consultant and a former actor, best known for his role in the 1986 film Hoosiers
, in which he played the character of Jimmy Chitwood, a basketball
player who makes a last-second shot to win the Indiana state high school
championship. The character is based upon Bobby Plump
, who actually accomplished that feat in 1954.
Valainis, a native of Indiana, had arrived at an open casting call for Hoosiers but grew impatient waiting in line with hundreds of other hopefuls and decided to leave the line. However, when he did so, he was noticed by a casting director, who then pulled him aside and asked him to demonstrate his basketball skills. Although Valainis had been cut each of the three times he had tried out for his own high school basketball team, he impressed the casting director enough that he was invited back the next day to read lines, and he eventually landed the part. Of the eight actors cast as members of the team, Valainis was reportedly the only one who did not actually play high school basketball as he was cut four times during tryouts.
The scene in Hoosiers with Jimmy Chitwood and Coach Norman Dale talking while Jimmy is shooting baskets at an outdoor basket was filmed in one take. Valainis said that he "wasn't even listening to (Gene Hackman
). I was just concentrating on making (the shots) and I made one and they kept going in." In the scene where Chitwood made the final shot of the state championship game, Valainis was told that whether he made the shot or not, people were going to rush the floor because of the need for a wide shot of the court. Luckily, he made it on the first take (and later sank the same shot in a second take).
After shooting Hoosiers, Valainis moved to California
to pursue a career in acting. However, he later reflected that after getting the role in Hoosiers so easily, he believes that he took acting "for granted". He received a few small roles in feature films, one of them being Scott Thorson
, in the TV biopic Liberace (1988), before turning his attention to golf. Valainis had been an all-state golfer at Bishop Chatard High School
in Indianapolis, Indiana
, as well as a member of the golf team at Purdue University
. After giving up on acting, he began a career in golf course management, including working as a caddy
for professional golfers.
As of 2010, Valainis was working as a construction consultant. He was married, with two daughters, and living in Costa Mesa, California
. He noted that when in public, he was still frequently recognized for his role in Hoosiers.
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
, in which he played the character of Jimmy Chitwood, a basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who makes a last-second shot to win the Indiana state high school
Indiana High School Athletic Association
The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
championship. The character is based upon Bobby Plump
Bobby Plump
Bobby Plump was a member of the Milan High School basketball team that won the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Tournament in 1954. Plump was named one of the Most Noteworthy Hoosiers of the 20th century by Indianapolis Monthly Magazine...
, who actually accomplished that feat in 1954.
Valainis, a native of Indiana, had arrived at an open casting call for Hoosiers but grew impatient waiting in line with hundreds of other hopefuls and decided to leave the line. However, when he did so, he was noticed by a casting director, who then pulled him aside and asked him to demonstrate his basketball skills. Although Valainis had been cut each of the three times he had tried out for his own high school basketball team, he impressed the casting director enough that he was invited back the next day to read lines, and he eventually landed the part. Of the eight actors cast as members of the team, Valainis was reportedly the only one who did not actually play high school basketball as he was cut four times during tryouts.
The scene in Hoosiers with Jimmy Chitwood and Coach Norman Dale talking while Jimmy is shooting baskets at an outdoor basket was filmed in one take. Valainis said that he "wasn't even listening to (Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
Eugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
). I was just concentrating on making (the shots) and I made one and they kept going in." In the scene where Chitwood made the final shot of the state championship game, Valainis was told that whether he made the shot or not, people were going to rush the floor because of the need for a wide shot of the court. Luckily, he made it on the first take (and later sank the same shot in a second take).
After shooting Hoosiers, Valainis moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to pursue a career in acting. However, he later reflected that after getting the role in Hoosiers so easily, he believes that he took acting "for granted". He received a few small roles in feature films, one of them being Scott Thorson
Scott Thorson
Scott Thorson became famous for his relationship with and lawsuit against entertainer Liberace and his testimony against gangster Eddie Nash.-Relationship with Liberace:...
, in the TV biopic Liberace (1988), before turning his attention to golf. Valainis had been an all-state golfer at Bishop Chatard High School
Bishop Chatard High School
Bishop Chatard High School is a Catholic co-educational preparatory high school located in the Broad Ripple district of Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States...
in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, as well as a member of the golf team at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. After giving up on acting, he began a career in golf course management, including working as a caddy
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
for professional golfers.
As of 2010, Valainis was working as a construction consultant. He was married, with two daughters, and living in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
. He noted that when in public, he was still frequently recognized for his role in Hoosiers.