HONOLULU -- Actor Ray Bumatai, 52, died Wednesday after a long battle with brain cancer, according to family and friends.

Bumatai was the older brother of local comedian Andy Bumatai. He leaves behind a wife, Bree, and a 21-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.

Ray Bumatai appeared in a number of films, television shows and local community theater.

"First of all, he'd want to be remembered as a good man, a good husband, a father and then a talent. And he was multitalented," Bree Bumatai said.

She said Ray was holding her hand and Andy's hand when he died early Thursday morning.

He had surgery to remove cancer three years ago.

"During that time, he made a CD, he and I swam with the dolphins, we traveled, he did several films -- a couple of them will be in the Hawaii International Film Festival coming up," Bree said. "We did a play together at Manoa Valley Theatre. He did the 'King And I' out at Army Community Theatre. He had a very full three years."

When those three years passed, doctors had the news the family dreaded.

"I guess we always knew it could come back. I think we really thought we had it beat. I don't think we thought it would come back. I know we were both very devastated when we heard," Bree said.

Besides family and friends, his life will go on in his work, including a new avenue he went down recently.

"He did an album this past year and I think he wrote beautiful music. It was the thing he missed the most when he was losing his ability to use his arm," Bree said.

His music CD is entitled "All The Things I Said."

In one song, "Brave of Heart," he sings:

"I will be brave of heart.
Begin with good intentions from the start.
And with my hands and my mind,
I will make this world a better place to live."