Jack McCoy passes away as Mark Occhilupo leads tributes

Legendary surf movie-maker Jack McCoy has died, just days after bringing one of his most iconic films to Queensland on a retrospective tour.

Surf filmmaker Jack McCoy has passed away.

Legendary surf movie-maker Jack McCoy has died, just days after bringing one of his most iconic films to Queensland on a retrospective tour.

McCoy passed away after a lengthy health battle. He was 76.

The Sydney-based Californian native had been touring his seminal films, including Blue Horizon and the Occumentary, featuring Gold Coast surfing legend Mark Occhilupo, at cinemas around Australia as his unspecified illness advanced.

He was in Queensland last week showing Blue Horizon, starring another Coast surfing great, Dave Rastovich as well as the late former world champion, Hawaiian Andy Irons.

McCoy famously saved Occhilupo’s career after the surfer dubbed “The Raging Bull” prematurely quit the sport and retired to the couch where his weight ballooned amid a haze of booze, junk food and mental demons.

The larger-than-life film-maker got “Occy” back into training for the 1995 Billabong Challenge surf contest in Western Australia, which McCoy also filmed for a video. Four years later, Occhilupo won his first world title.

Jack McCoy.

“(McCoy) pretty much made my surfing career what it is today,” Occhilupo posted on Instagram following news of McCoy’s death.

“If it wasn’t for him, I could be oblivious. I made my comeback in the west with Jack and I’ve always said this, I wouldn’t have my world title without him.

“He was a perfectionist and his art form of making surf films was unbelievable. He will never be forgotten, just put on one of his movies and you’ll be stoked on surfing forever.

“Aloha Jack, you’ll be with me forever.”

McCoy’s family had earlier announced his passing.

“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father — our Big Kahuna — who has now caught his final wave and rests peacefully above,” they posed on Instagram.

Mark Occhilupo has paid tribute. Picture: Jerad Williams

“A true one of a kind, he was deeply loved by so many and touched, moved and inspired millions of hearts across the globe through his storytelling, art and most importantly his passion for the environment and spirit of aloha.

“His legacy lives on in all of us who had the privilege to have met him.

We’ll share more details in time, but for now, we kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this immense loss and take space to grieve together as a family.

“Give those you love a big Jack McCoy heart to heart hug today. You never know when you’ll be able to share that last breath together. Go out and get a bomb today for the big guy.”

Surf cinematographer Jack McCoy in action.

Originally published as Jack McCoy passes away as Mark Occhilupo leads tributes