Gustavo Caballero/South Beach Photo/Shutterstock
Broadway actor Quentin Oliver Lee died after a battle with stage 4 colon cancer. He was 34.
His wife, Angie Lee Graham, announced the news in a post on her Instagram account on Thursday, writing that Lee died that morning in what was “the most beautiful moment” of her life.
“I saw his last breaths, held his hand tightly and felt his heartbeat slowly going away,” she wrote. “He had a smile on his face and was surrounded by those he loves. It was peaceful and perfect.”
RELATED: Amanda Kloots Not Ready For Son Elvis, 3, To Ask Him About Nick Cordero: ‘He Doesn’t Get It’
Quentin Oliver Lee/Instagram
She shared photos of them with their daughter Samantha, calling him “an incredible man, husband, father, son, brother, friend, singer, actor and disciple of Christ with great faith in his Father in Heaven.”
She praised her late husband for impacting many “people and communities”, expressing that he helped others become better people.
“Samantha and I are supported and uplifted by our families and our own faith. Please understand if I don’t respond, but trust that your messages and love have been read and felt,” she concluded the post.
Lee began his run as the lead role in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera in December 2017. He was an understudy in the 2017 Broadway musical The Prince of Broadway and appeared in the revival of 2021 a Caroline, or Change before appearing in the Off-Broadway production of Oratory for living thingswhich opened in March.
The official Instagram account for The Phantom of the Opera He paid tribute to Lee on Friday, writing: “The Phantom family is saddened to hear of the passing of Quentin Oliver Lee. Quentin led our 2018 North American tour brilliantly. Our hearts go out to Quentin’s family and friends.”
In June, Lee shared the news of his cancer diagnosis alongside a picture of a hospital bracelet, calling the year “a wild ride.”
RELATED: Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Julia Reichert dies at 76
Never miss a story – sign up PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to keep up with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In September, members of the Broadway community began planning a benefit concert for Lee. His friend, songwriter Brett Macias, shared a poster advertising the event and wrote that Lee “is a righteous guy and their family doesn’t deserve this.”
Before the concert in October, he shared the image again on Instagram, writing that there is a possibility that Lee will perform for the last time.
Following his diagnosis, his family set up a GoFund Me page to help cover his medical expenses, ‘keep the lights on [and] keep the food on the table.”
As of Saturday morning, the fund had raised nearly $45,000 of its $50,000 goal.