"He had a kind of ironical sense of humor and a very kind of questioning sense about him, a sense of absurdity. He was quite intellectual, extremely well read, almost erudite, and he showed us we could be more than just a bunch of what surfers are [stereotypically] portrayed as in films such as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."
Although Dora rode the towering surf at Waimea Bay in Hawaii as a stunt double in "Ride the Wild Surf," Pezman said, "He always said he was a 4-foot-and-under man."
"He had the guts and skill to ride larger surf, but it just didn't appeal to him," Pezman said. "It wasn't elegant. It was survival. He wasn't into survival surf; he was into the dance.
"And he came from the most high-profile surf break in the world, and he was the most high-profile surfer there. He was Mr. Malibu."
After leaving the United States in the early 1970s, Dora lived for some time in Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa, which is known for its pristine surf. Then he settled on the coast of France.
"One thing you can say about him: He did live life on his terms," said Milius.
And the legend of Miki Dora continues, especially in Malibu.
"Still, to this day," Milius said, "you'll see on the wall there: 'Dora Rules!' "
Dora is survived by his father, Miklos K. Dora; his stepmother, Christina; and a half sister, Pauline.
A memorial service is planned for February in Guethary.
