CNN Sportscaster Nick Charles Dies at 64

CNN sports anchor and boxing announcer Nick Charles died Saturday after a two year battle with bladder cancer, CNN reports. He was 64.

Charles, who died peacefully in Santa Fe, N.M., started working with CNN on the day of its inception, June 1, 1980. His career began on Sports Tonight, where he co-anchored opposite Fred Hickman. He went on to call fights for Showtime's ShoBox series.

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Upon learning of his illness in 2009, Charles began preparing his family for his impending death and even made birthday video diaries for his 5-year-old daughter, Giovanna.

"This is a gift from God where I need to build these memories for her, so that I'm not a blur," Charles said in a recent CNN.com article. "I feel that when I go, that I'm going to prepare a place for my daughter and my wife. I'm going to be in their heart and soul. I tell them that every day."

Charles is survived by his wife, Cory, daughter Giovanna, as well as a son and two daughters from a previous marriage.