Pete Postlethwaite Loses Cancer Battle: Why?

(CBS) Twenty years ago, actor Pete Postlethwaite stared cancer in the face and won. This weekend, cancer was the victor.

The 64-year-old Brit, who was famous on both sides of the pond, passed away peacefully in a British hospital, according to the Daily Mail.

The actor had reportedly fought a lengthy battle with cancer, although his publicist did not specify what kind.

Back in 1990, Postlethwaite had testicular cancer and had a testicle removed, according to a 2000 profile in the Guardian. But the actor still had his best work in front of him - roles in Hollywood blockbusters like "Jurassic Park," "The Usual Suspects" and recently "Inception."

Postlethwaite received the most acclaim however, for the 1993 film "In the Name of the Father," in which Daniel Day-Lewis played his son falsely accused of a terrorist bombing in Ireland. Postlethwaite was nominated for an Oscar, but didn't win.

Half a million Americans die from cancer each year, making it the second biggest killer behind heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Testicular cancer is more rare. Of the 8,000 cases each year in America, the vast majority survive.