Warshaw said Browne retired for a while in the mid-'60s, then came back in 1973 with what many consider his best film, "Going Surfin'."
Browne also shot footage for Greg MacGillivray and Jim Freeman's 1972 classic "Five Summer Stories" and was part of the team that filmed the surfing sequences for "Big Wednesday," director John Milius' 1978 feature film.
Born in Boston on July 14, 1912, Browne moved to Los Angeles in 1931 to major in physical education at USC.
Browne, who lived in Costa Mesa for many years before moving to San Luis Obispo three years ago, was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame in 1996.
He was honored in March at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival for his contributions to surf films.
Moore, who said Browne remained active until he developed health problems due to diabetes, recalled that she and Browne went on three bungee-jumping trips to New Zealand together in the 1990s.
"He loved to bungee jump, and he bungee jumped until he was 86," she said.
Browne, who never married, is survived by two nieces and a nephew.
At Browne's request, close friends will scatter his ashes at Pipeline on Oahu.
A celebration of his life will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Waimea Falls.
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dennis.mclellan@latimes.com
