Jack McCoy, Surf Cinema Pioneer, Passes Away at 77
The surfing world is mourning the loss of one of its greatest storytellers. Jack McCoy, the iconic filmmaker whose lens reshaped surf culture for over five decades, has died after years of health struggles. His family announced his passing with a heartfelt message urging fans to embrace loved ones and ride a wave in his honor.
A Lifelong Devotion to the Ocean
Born in Kailua, Hawaii, Jack McCoy grew up alongside surfing greats like Gerry Lopez and Dennis Pang. In 1970, he moved to Australia and never looked back. Inspired by Bruce Brown and mentored by filmmaker Dick Hoole, McCoy released his first full-length surf film, In Search of Tubular Swells, in 1976. From there, a wave of innovation followed.
Films That Defined a Generation
McCoy’s legacy includes over 25 genre-defining surf films such as Storm Riders, The Green Iguana, The Occumentary, Blue Horizon, and A Deeper Shade of Blue. His work wasn’t just visual spectacle—it captured the soul of surfing. His Billabong Challenge series changed the competitive format forever, taking elite surfers to remote Western Australia, inspiring what later became the World Surf League’s “Dream Tour.”
The Water Shot Innovator
“To me, it’s everything,” McCoy once said about water cinematography. Unlike many, he waded into the ocean with his camera, immersing audiences in the wave’s heart. His revolutionary water shots became the gold standard of surf filmmaking.
Hollywood Friends and Rock Royalty
While finishing a film in Los Angeles in the ‘80s, McCoy shared a Hollywood Hills house with legends like David Bowie and Monty Python’s Eric Idle. They urged him to see his surf films as art. That encouragement led to later collaborations with Paul McCartney, pairing stunning ocean visuals with Beatles soundscapes.
Honors and Legacy
McCoy was inducted into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach in 2013 and most recently received the Australian Surf Industry Association’s Service to the Industry Award. His work shaped the identity of modern surfing, but his warmth and generosity left an even deeper mark.
Farewell to a Friend
Jack McCoy wasn’t just a filmmaker—he was a friend, a mentor, and a champion of the sea. His humanity outshone even his cinematic brilliance. As the surf world says goodbye, it also celebrates a man who made the ocean feel even more alive.
Ride in peace, Jack. The waves are yours forever.