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Ex-CIA agent Tony Mendez, who inspired the Oscar-winning film Argo, has died at the age of 78.
He had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. At the CIA, Mendez specialised in disguises, forgery and rescues.
He is best known for smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran during the 1979-81 hostage crisis by posing as a film producer.
Ben Affleck, who directed Argo and starred as Mendez, called him “a true American hero”.
“He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness,” Affleck said in a tweet. Read more