Former U.S. intelligence agent Tony Mendez, architect of 'Argo' rescue, dies at 78

January 22, 2019

Former United States Central Intelligence Agency agent died Saturday, aged 78, at a, Maryland assisted living facility. Mendez is known for organizing the safe return in 1980 of several U.S. nationals who had during the. Former CIA deputy director praised Mendez on Twitter: "Tony was one of the best officers to ever serve at CIA. His work was unique, and it help to protect our nation in significant ways. He will be missed. May he Rest In Peace."

Mendez once told The Washington Post he considered himself "an artist first." He worked as a draftsman before applying for a graphic artist job in 1965 that turned out to be at the CIA. Mendez spent most of his 25-year career at posts outside the U.S., many in Asia. He specialized in removing people from areas that had become dangerous for them, a process called "exfiltration." He studied makeup and special effects for use in his work, later titling his memoir The Master of Disguise.

Mendez's wife Jonna Mendez, also CIA, said, "He could be Pakistani, he could be Mexican, he could be from a lot of different countries[...] It was incredible to work with my husband."

In 1979, and captured the U.S. embassy, taking dozens of people there hostage. They would be held for 444 days. Six other U.S. diplomats fled to the Canadian embassy and hid until Mendez and another agent successfully smuggled them out of the country disguised as a Canadian film crew working on a supposed movie called Argo. The events were nicknamed "the Canadian Caper" and later made into an -winning film of the same name &mdash;  &mdash; in 2012, with directing and playing Mendez.

For his work, Mendez was awarded the by then-U.S.-president Jimmy Carter, though the CIA's involvement in the Argo rescue remained a secret until 1997.

Affleck tweeted, "Tony Mendez was a true American hero. He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness. 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."

According to his publicist, Mendez died of. He is survived by his wife, Jonna, three children from two marriages, two grandchildren, and his sisters. Another son has predeceased him. He has authored three books, one with his wife. A fourth, also co-written with Jonna Mendez, is due out in May.