Who Doubled for Maverick in Top Gun's Volleyball Scene?
It was 1985 in San Diego, and I was on summer break after my sophomore year at SDSU, studying athletic training and biology while playing on the volleyball team. Terry Nolan, a former SDSU player and the scene's choreographer, invited me to try out for a volleyball movie role at our school's sand courts. He didn't sell it very well, the details were vague, and if it had been a nicer day, I probably would have skipped it to play volleyball at the beach that day instead of heading to our school's dusty courts.
But I showed up anyway and that's how I ended up cast as a double in the Top Gun volleyball scene, alongside John Eddo (doubling for Iceman), Russ Bird (Goose), Andy Aguiar (Slider), and me as Maverick. None of us had any idea we were about to be part of what would become one of the most iconic movie scenes.
Playing Volleyball in Jeans (Yes, Really)
Six weeks later, we arrived at Naval Base Point Loma and were driven to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for filming, where they handed me a pair of 501 jeans and dog tags. I tried explaining that volleyball players don't actually wear jeans and that playing in them would be nearly impossible, but the wardrobe person was adamant that Maverick had to wear jeans.
So there I was, playing volleyball in tight jeans, dog tags, and aviator sunglasses. And yes, it was as ridiculous as it sounds.
I wasn't familiar with any of the actors at the time, but everyone was super cool. Funny enough, Anthony Edwards was two years ahead of me at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, but we had never crossed paths even though our mothers knew each other.
The $250 Under the Table Deal
We shot the volleyball scene in one day at Miramar. My payment? $250 cash under the table, a beach volleyball, and all the beers we could smuggle out in our backpacks. Not a bad deal for a college student in 1985, but looking back, I wish I'd insisted on movie credits!
Yes, I netted… can’t believe they left it in!
Hollywood Cowboys at a College Party
At the end of shooting, I invited the cast to a party at SDSU, not really expecting them to show. Tom Cruise didn't, but Val Kilmer, Rick Rossovich, Kelly McGillis, and a few others did. When Val and Rick walked in, it was like the Top Gun premiere with cowboy boots, 501s, white T-shirts, and leather flight jackets (in the middle of August). The rest of us were in T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops, sweating in the brutal heat. Their entrance was hilarious, like two Hollywood cowboys wandering into a kegger.
It was an unforgettable experience and I even thought about pursuing acting for a minute, but instead, my journey led me to chiropractic.
30+ Years Later: It’s All About Alignment
My passion for helping patients live more active lives inspired me to create Ergolign by Dr. Mike.
