Tony Mendez, spy who inspired Argo, dies at 78

Los Angeles, January 21 

Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film “Argo”, has died at the age of 78, his agent confirmed. Mendez was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. 

Best known for smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis by posing as a film producer, at the CIA, Mendez specialised in disguises, forgery and rescues.

Over his 25-year career, he worked with Hollywood make-up artists and magicians to perfect disguises and fake identities. Ben Affleck, who directed “Argo” and starred as Mendez, called him “a true American hero”.

Born in 1940, Mendez orchestrated what would later be called the “Canadian Caper”, a daring rescue of six American diplomats from Iran. The diplomats were forced to shelter in Canada’s embassy in Tehran after protesters overran the American embassy. — IANS