Tony mendez, former cia officer portrayed in argo, dead. Tony mendez, a spy best known for rescuing six american diplomats during the 19791981 iran hostage crisis which was the subject of the 2012 film argo has passed away. The true, declassified account of cia operative tony mendez s daring rescue of american hostages from iran that inspired the criticallyacclaimed film directed by and starring ben affleck, and costarring john goodman, alan arkin, and bryan cranston. Crisis was a very serious situation and has had a serious impact on the united states foreign relations with iran the book argo is very enjoyable and almost lighthearted at times. Artistspy tony mendez paints a dramatic portrait of unlikely collaboratorshollywood, the cia and canadaallied in the common cause of freedom. How the cia and hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history, was adapted for the feature film directed by and starring ben affleck. Before he was a spy, argos tony mendez was an artist. Antonio tony mendez, a former cia technical operations officer who helped rescue six u. Tony mendez, the former cia officer who famously supervised the rescue of six american diplomats from iran in 1980 and authored the memoir upon which the 2012 film argo was based, has died. Tony mendez has written a book titled argo, avaliable now. It focuses on cia officer tony mendez and his team as they plan for, and eventually expatriate the 6 diplomats being hidden by the.
Antonio joseph mendez november 15, 1940 january 19, 2019 was an american technical. Antonio tony mendez, former cia officer portrayed in. The book, along with bearmans article in wired, served as the source material for argo. These books are highly recommended reading for new recruits in the us intelligence community, and are part of the curriculum at universities and in the intelligence community. Jan 19, 2019 tony mendez, the argo spy who in 1980 smuggled u. Tony mendez and his partner in the iran operation each received the cias intelligence star award. Jan 20, 2019 together and separately, mendez and tony have written several books, including tony s book with matt baglio argo. Argo is a 2012 american historical drama thriller film directed by ben affleck. Antonio tony mendez served in the cia for twentyfive years and is a highly decorated cia officer, one of the top fifty officers in its first fifty years. He is known for his work on argo 2012, our man in tehran 20 and argo.
Excia agent tony mendez explains how he hatched a hairy plan to rescue six americans hiding in tehran, on which the film argo was based. Tony is the featured speaker at the one from the heart awards breakfast, a benefit for pathways hospice. Tony mendez the retired cia operative whose exploits during the iranian hostage crisis inspired the movie argo has retired from the spy business. Argo drew its inspiration from a 2007 article in wired magazine written by joshuah bearman titled the great escape. Ben affleck pays tribute to tony mendez after argo spy. This book had everything in it that you expect from a hollywood style spy film. It focuses on cia officer tony mendez and his team as they plan for, and eventually expatriate the 6 diplomats being hidden. How the cia and hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history 2012, with matt baglio. Tony talks about going to the oscars and reflects on the argo true story.
Tony mendez, the cia disguise expert whose daring rescue of six americans from iran was immortalized in ben afflecks oscarwinning movie argo, has. The film was based on a book written by him and his wife, also titled argo. Antonio tony mendez, former cia officer portrayed in argo. Jan 19, 2019 tony mendez, the former cia officer who rescued six american diplomats from revolutionary iran in 1980, died saturday. Officer celebrated in the film argo it was a blind ad in a newspaper that caught tony mendezs eye in 1965. Mendez fills argo with the drama, pressure and tension of one of cias most spectacular rescue operations. Robert wallace, former director, cia office of technical service tony mendez is a spys spy. Jan 20, 2019 a former cia technical operations officer whose role in rescuing six american diplomats from iran in 1980 was immortalized in the academy awardwinning drama argo has died. Antonio joseph tony mendez was an american cia technical operations officer who specialized in clandestine and covert cia operations. Tony mendez, the former cia officer who rescued six american diplomats from revolutionary iran in 1980, died saturday. While the iranian hostage crisis was a very serious situation and has had a serious impact on the united states foreign relations with iran the book argo is very enjoyable and almost lighthearted at times. Argo by antonio mendez and matt baglio the declassified cia story behind the. In january 1980 he was awarded the intelligence star for valor for engineering and conducting.
Tony mendez, former cia technical operations officer, at the premiere of argo, a 2012 film based on a covert mission mendez led in 1979 that. A classic case of deception mendez on the background of the canadian caper, studies in intelligence, winter 19992000 tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo, reveals the real story behind film smash. Officer celebrated in the film argo tony mendez in a photograph taken around the time he orchestrated the rescue of six american diplomats who were trapped in. Jan 19, 2019 tony mendez, the former cia officer who famously supervised the rescue of six american diplomats from iran in 1980 and authored the memoir upon which the 2012 film argo was based, has died. If youve seen the movie you know the ending, so ill just say its a brilliant book, and a on november 4, 1979, iranian activists stormed the united states embassy in tehran. Tony mendez, the former cia technical operations officer who orchestrated the 1980 rescue of six american diplomats from iran and who was portrayed by ben affleck in the academy award winning film. This news piece features tony mendez in 20 shortly after argo won the academy award for best picture. Tony mendez is best known for his role in rescuing american diplomats during the iran hostage crisis, portrayed in his book and the movie adaptation, argo. The book provides a comprehensive history of tony mendezs background in. Jan 19, 2019 tony mendez, whose 1980 rescue of six american diplomats was depicted in best picture winner argo, died at age 78. A former cia technical operations officer whose role in rescuing six american diplomats from iran in 1980 was immortalized in the academy awardwinning drama argo has died. Tony mendez, the argo spy who rescued americans in iran.
On november 4, 1979, iranian militants stormed the american embassy in tehran and captured dozens of american hostages, sparking a 444day ordeal. This book narrates how tony mendez, a cia agent, managed to rescue six american diplomats who were hiding in tehran after the embassy was taken. The real mendez says the movie is mostly spot on, even if the rescue at the end wasnt quite what the film depicts. Tony mendez, former cia officer portrayed in argo, dead at. Antonio mendez finally details the extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation he led more than three decades ago. Tony mendez, the reallife spy behind ben afflecks oscarwinning film argo, has died at the age of 78. Central intelligence agency operative tony mendez, the master of disguise, and the 2007 wired article by joshuah bearman, the great escape. Tony mendez and jonna mendez recently completed their fourth book that will be titled the moscow rules. He received the intelligence star for valor for the argo operation, the story of which was told in the 20 movie of the same name.
How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran and from tony mendezs memoir, the master of disguise 1999. The cia and the canadian government collaborated on a rescue plan, and it falls to cia exfiltration expert tony mendez and his team to get them out. Tony and jonna mendez are former cia intelligence officers with 52 years of. Antonio joseph tony mendez born november 15, 1940 is an american cia technical operations officer, now retired, who specialized in support of clandestine and covert cia operations. Tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo. Tony mendez was born on november 15, 1940 in eureka, nevada, usa as antonio joseph mendez. Argo movie true story meet the real tony mendez and the. Argo movie true story meet the real tony mendez and the 6. A very brave cia officer, tony mendez, using commercial cover, entered iran. Tony mendez, whose 1980 rescue of six american diplomats was depicted in best picture winner argo, died at age 78. The author of the master of disguise and spy dust, mendez lives with his family in rural washington county, maryland.
Former cia agent talks disguise, new book at frederick. Antonio mendez served in the cia for twentyfive years and is a highly decorated cia officer, one of the top 50 officers in its first 50 years and a recipient of the intelligence star for valor for the argo operation. Tim weiner has won the pulitzer prize and the national book award for. His story was immortalized in the 2012 movie argo, in which he was portrayed. Argo by antonio mendez and matt baglio the boston globe.
Argo author tony mendez to speak at pathways hospice benefit. Secretary of defense, in his book from the shadows. Together and separately, mendez and tony have written several books, including tonys book with matt baglio argo. Tony mendez 1940 2019 was the excia agent who led the daring rescue of six u. Jan 20, 2019 tony mendez, the cia disguise expert whose daring rescue of six americans from iran was immortalized in ben afflecks oscarwinning movie argo, has died. If you enjoyed the oscar winning argo but wanted to really under stand what the operation to save the house guests was really like, this is where to start. He smuggled six state department employees out of tehran during the iran hostage crisis, an operation portrayed in the movie argo. Argo is proof that espionage reality is more riveting than spy fiction. Tony mendez is no longer a spy for the cia, but the qualities that helped make him one of the best his wit and unassuming personality were on full display oct. How the cia and hollywood pulled off the most audacious.
Jan 21, 2019 tony mendez, the reallife spy behind ben afflecks oscarwinning film argo, has died at the age of 78. He died on january 19, 2019 in frederick, maryland, usa. Tony mendez, cia master of disguise who was the real argo. The true story behind ben afflecks globewinning film former cia deputy director michael morell also tweeted that mendez was one of the best officers. The mendezs have written four books, the moscow rules, argo, spy dust, and the master of disguise, which are currently available on this site. Jan 22, 2019 tony mendez in a 1997 portrait after his retirement from the cia. The mendezs have written four books, the moscow rules, argo, spy dust, and. Written the real ben affleck tony mendez, you can hear about the role of the canadians british and the real world politics of a crisis that affects the world to this day. Tony mendez, the spy whose involvement in the iran hostage crisis inspired ben afflecks argo, died saturday after a longterm battle with.
From the author of argo comes an unforgettable behindthescenes story of. Antonio mendez signed book argo premiere collectibles. Tony mendez in a 1997 portrait after his retirement from the cia. How the cia and hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history. Screenwriter chris terrio adapted the screenplay from the book by the u. Tony mendez is a retired cia officer, an author, and the reallife inspiration for the movie argo. The book, along with bearmans article in wired, served as the source material for argo, which won the oscar for best picture. He wrote multiple memoirs about his cia experiences. Apr 05, 2015 antonio joseph tony mendez born november 15, 1940 is an american cia technical operations officer, now retired, who specialized in support of clandestine and covert cia operations. A riveting story of secret identities and international intrigue, argo is the gripping account of the historymaking collusion between hollywood and highstakes espionage. Mendez died early saturday morning, succumbing to a decadelong battle with parkinsons. The major motion picture will be released october 12th.
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