Antonio “Tony” Mendez, the former CIA technical operations officer portrayed by Ben Affleck in the 2012 film Argo, has died aged 78.
His family and literary agent said Mendez died Saturday at an assisted-living centre in Frederick, Maryland. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease, according to a statement.
A specialist in covert operations, Mendez helped devise the plan which rescued six diplomats from Iran in 1980, amid the hostage crisis, by disguising them as a Canadian film crew so they could board a flight and escape the country.
The story was captured on film in Argo, also directed by Affleck, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2013.
Born in Nevada, Mendez moved to Colorado at age 14, attended the University of Colorado and worked for Martin Marietta on the Titan intercontinental missile. He was recruited for the CIA in 1965 through a blind ad, working as a “chief of disguise”, helping secret agents remain secret through creating false documents and disguises.
“Tony Mendez was a true American hero. He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness,” Affleck tweeted Saturday. “He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country. I’m so proud to have worked for him and to have told one of his stories.”
His wife, Jonna, is also a former chief of disguise in the CIA’s Office of Technical Service. His family says he will be buried in a private ceremony at the family graveyard in Nevada.
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