Former Honolulu broadcast personality and recording engineer Ken Hiller, who later narrated record-breaking radio dramas of George Lucas’ “Star Wars” series, died July 13 in Gulf Breeze, Fla., following a long illness. He was 77.

Hiller was born in Bridgeport, Conn. After a stint in the Air Force, he traveled the country as a portrait artist. With his red hair, beard and sketch pad, people called him “Vinnie” for his resemblance to Vincent van Gogh, according to Marge Hiller, his wife of 42 years.

His media career began in the early 1960s when he talked his way into a job as a sound recording engineer at a Honolulu radio station. With a rich baritone voice, he went on to work as a disc jockey for KPOI and voice-over actor.

As a recording engineer at Commercial Recording Studios, his discography includes Hula Records albums by Sunday Manoa, Palani Vaughan and Tony Lindsey and Friends. Hiller was part of the crew that recorded rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix’s Maui concert on July 30, 1970, his last on U.S. soil.

Hiller also worked at KHON and expanded into producing and directing, forming his own company, Unprecedented Productions. As an actor, he appeared in stage productions and on television in the original “Hawaii Five-O.” He also developed and hosted the TV show “Hiller’s Chillers,” a showcase for scary movies.

While living in Hawaii, he married his first wife, Judy; their children, Eric and Kristin, were born here.

Looking to move on to a bigger media market, Hiller relocated to Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., in 1972, quickly establishing himself as a voice-over talent. Over the years, Hiller was heard on thousands of radio and television commercials and industrial films, and often donated his time and talent to fundraisers benefiting local nonprofits in the Twin Cities, according to film producer and friend John Neville, who met Hiller in Minneapolis in the 1970s and worked with him over three decades.

“Ken was the go-to narrator for many of our biggest projects,” Neville said via email. “Not only was Ken gifted with a great voice, he was a consummate professional in the booth … and a fun guy to be with out of the booth.”

In 1981 Hiller narrated National Public Radio’s dramatization of George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” a broadcast that brought a 40 percent jump in audience, with 750,000 listeners tuning in for each of the original 13 episodes, according to NPR. Two radio adaptations followed: “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1983 and “Return of the Jedi” in 1996. (The radio dramas are available on iTunes and at amazon.com.)

Later in life Hiller became a master gem cutter and brewer of craft ales. He eventually moved to Gulf Breeze, Fla., where he enjoyed boating.

A private memorial serv-ice is planned. In addition to his wife and children, Hiller is survived by four grandchildren and his brother, Wayne. The family can be contacted via email at ken hillermn@gmail.com.