Biography

One of the gnarliest surfer dudes of the 1960s whose expert talents were utilized for the front pages of "Surfer" magazine and in a number of "beach party" movies.

At the height of his surfing popularity, he decided to flee the U.S. in 1970 after a warrant was issued against him for credit card and check fraud. He traveled around the globe surfing for a living before returning to California in 1973 and facing probation, which he broke. He was in and out of jail twice and spent much of his later years in France.

Resurfaced in the documentary Surfers: The Movie (1990) and became the subject of his own film In Search of 'Da Cat' (1996).

A regular Malibu surfer known for his offbeat, anti-establishment behavior during the late 50s, he was part of the sun crowd that included the original "Gidget" inspiration Kathy Kohner.

Also an expert ping-pong player, he was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1966.