- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAntonio Joseph Mendez
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Tony Mendez was born on November 15, 1940 in Eureka, Nevada, USA. He was a writer, known for Argo (2012), Our Man in Tehran (2013) and Argo: Absolute Authenticity (2013). He was married to Jonna Mendez and Karen Sue Smith. He died on January 19, 2019 in Frederick, Maryland, USA.
- SpousesJonna Mendez(July 13, 1990 - January 19, 2019) (his death, 1 child)Karen Sue Smith(May 13, 1960 - May 23, 1986) (her death, 3 children)
- ParentsNeva June TognoniArchie Pruitt RicheyJohn George Mendez
- A retired CIA agent whose heroic actions during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1980 inspired the award-winning film Argo (2012). The public were unaware of Mendez's actions until the operation was declassified in 1997 by President Clinton.
- During the Vietnam War, Mendez disguised a black CIA officer and Asian diplomat as two white businessmen. He consulted Hollywood makeup artist John Chambers, of Planet of the Apes fame, for the task.
- Father of sculptor Antonio Tobias Mendez.
- He was portrayed by Ben Affleck in Argo (2012).
- Authored and co-authored two nonfiction books about his time in the CIA: 1999's Master Of Disguise: My Secret Life In The CIA, 2003's Spy Dust: Two Masters Of Disguise Reveal The Tools And Operations That Helped Win The Cold War and 2012's Argo: How The CIA And Hollywood Pulled Off The Most Audacious Rescue In History.
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