David Berry was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. He is a graduate of Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. After attending Denison University in Granville, Ohio for two years, he decided to pursue a career in Film & Photography and transferred to California Institute of the Arts, near Los Angeles, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1973.

He managed a successful career working for Industrial Light & Magic helping to create special effects for films such as Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Trek, E.T., and Cocoon to name a few. Now retired from professional work, he continues to consult, teach, and explore the boundaries of digital film creation with a passion. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Kamala.