Bart Story, a veteran entertainment research executive whose work shaped marketing strategies for some of Hollywood’s biggest film and television campaigns, died Tuesday. He was 63.
Story died in Los Angeles of complications related to metastatic urothelial carcinoma, his family announced.
Story spent more than three decades helping studios, networks and streamers better understand audiences. From 2003 until July, he served as senior director at MarketCast, where he advised clients on creative testing and positioning strategies.
“Across his two-decade career with MarketCast, Bart helped hundreds of movies achieve success, meaningfully connecting with thousands of clients, focus group respondents and teammates along the way,” Jeremy Radisich, president of entertainment at MarketCast, said in a statement. “His work was characterized by a thoughtful and gentle approach that made him not only an excellent collaborator and partner, but an incredible person who made an impact on everyone he met.”
Earlier, Story was director of research for the Video Software Dealers Association in 1995-96, then occupied the same position at SAG from 1996-2001.
He began his career working in movie theaters and earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal Poly Pomona in 1985 and his master’s from USC’s Annenberg School three years later.
Survivors include his husband, Patrick Jager, and their son, Brandt. A private celebration of life will be held.