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Tony Mendez
Antonio Joseph Mendez (November 15, 1940 – January 19, 2019)
Tony Mendez
was an American technical operations officer for the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA), who specialized in support of clandestine
and covert CIA operations. He wrote three memoirs about his CIA
experiences.

Mendez was decorated, and is now widely known, for his on-the-scene
management of the "Canadian Caper" during the Iran hostage crisis. He
exfiltrated six American diplomats from Iran in January 1980 by
Mendez (left) with Jimmy Carter
arranging to have them pose as a Canadian film crew. As part of their
after the Canadian Caper
cover, the diplomats carried passports issued by the Canadian
Birth name Antonio Joseph
government to document them as Canadian citizens.
Mendez
After declassification of records, the full details of the operation were Born November 15,
reported in a 2007 article by Joshuah Bearman in Wired magazine.[1] 1940
This was loosely adapted for the screenplay and development of the Eureka, Nevada,
2012 Academy Award-winning film Argo, directed by Ben Affleck, who U.S.
also starred as Mendez. Mendez attended the 70th Golden Globe
Died January 19, 2019
Awards to give a speech about the film, where it was nominated (and
(aged 78)
later won) for Best Motion Picture – Drama.[2]
Frederick,
Maryland, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Contents Service/ Central Intelligence
Early life and education branch Agency
Career Years of 1963–1990
Marriage and family service
Later years and death Rank SIS-2
Representation in other media Unit Graphics and
References Authentication
External links Division
Battles/wars Iran hostage crisis,
Cold War
Early life and education Awards Intelligence Star
Mendez was born in Eureka, Nevada, in 1940 to John George Mendez (1980)
(1917–1943)[3][4] and Neva June Tognoni (1919–1995).[5][6][7][8] He CIA Trailblazer
attended local public schools. His father was of Mexican descent, and Award (1997)
his mother had Italian, French, and Irish ancestry.[9][10][11][12][13] In an Order of the
interview by Open Your Eyes magazine, Mendez said that his father Sphinx (2000)
died when he was quite young. As he never learned to speak Spanish
and was cut off from his father's Mexican-American culture, he did not identify as Hispanic.[14]

When Mendez was a teen, his family moved to Colorado. After graduating from Englewood high school, he studied

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art at the University of Colorado.[15]

Career
Mendez continued to work as an artist after college. He first worked as an illustrator and tool designer for Martin
Marietta, a large aerospace firm.[15]

In 1965, Mendez answered a blind advertisement for a graphic artist. He was hired by the Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA), where he became an espionage artist for the Technical Services Division.[13][15] Mendez worked as a
CIA officer in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. His work in the agency frequently required him to
forge documents, create disguises, and handle other graphical work related to espionage. He served in the CIA for
25 years.[13][15]

Mendez was awarded the Intelligence Star on March 12, 1980, for his work on the "Canadian Caper".[13][15] That
year Mendez had gone to Iran in order to rescue six American diplomats who had taken refuge at the Canadian
embassy, after the United States embassy was overrun in the disruption related to the overthrow of the
government. He managed on the scene in what became known as the Canadian Caper: Mendez was part of a
strategy to exfiltrate the diplomats by passing them off as Canadians working on a science-fiction film crew. He
had gained Canadian passports and supporting documents from that government to identify them as citizens.[13]

Marriage and family


Mendez and his first wife, Karen, had three children together. Karen Mendez died of cancer in 1986.[16] Their son
Ian died in 2010. Their son Antonio Tobias Mendez became a sculptor.[17]

In the mid-1980s, Mendez worked with Jonna Hiestand Goeser, also a CIA officer, on rebuilding the U.S. security
organization in the Soviet Union and later Russia. Following Mendez's retirement in 1990, they married in 1991.
They had a son together.[16]

Later years and death


After retiring from the CIA in 1990, Mendez and his wife Jonna, herself a 27-year veteran of the CIA,[15] served on
the Board of Directors of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. He also worked as an artist.[15]

Mendez wrote three non-fiction memoirs, one with his wife:

Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA (1999), with Malcolm McConnell, a memoir of his CIA
experiences[18]
Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations that Helped Win the Cold War (2003),
with Jonna Mendez and Bruce Henderson. [19]
Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History (2012), with Matt Baglio,
a more lengthy account of the Canadian Caper.[20]
His first book was lauded in 2002 by John Hollister Hedley, former Chairman of the CIA's Publications Review
Board, as one of three "landmark memoirs" by former CIA officers.[18][21]

Mendez was interviewed by film director Errol Morris for the First Person TV series. He appeared in the season
one episode, "The Little Gray Man." [22][23]

In 2009, Mendez was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.[24] Tony Mendez died on January 19, 2019 from
complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 78.[25]

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Representation in other media


In the first decade of the 21st century, records related to the Canadian Caper were declassified. Journalist Joshuah
Bearman wrote a full article about this in the April 2007 issue of Wired magazine.[1]

Bearman's account was loosely adapted for the screenplay and development of the feature film Argo (2012). It was
directed by Ben Affleck, who also starred as Mendez. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. When
interviewed in 2013 by ShowBizCafe.com, Mendez was asked how he felt about being portrayed by Ben Affleck,
who is non-Hispanic. Mendez noted that losing his father when he was young meant he did not learn Spanish nor
much of his father's culture. He said, "I don’t think of myself as a Hispanic. I think of myself as a person who grew
up in the desert."[9][10]

References
1. Bearman, Joshuah (April 24, 2007). "How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans From
Tehran" (https://www.wired.com/magazine/2007/04/feat_cia/). Archived (https://web.archive.org
/web/20130225103054/http://www.wired.com/magazine/2007/04/feat_cia/) from the original on February 25,
2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
2. Rosenwald, Michael S. (January 14, 2013). "Golden Globes: A big night for the real Tony Mendez"
(https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/golden-globes-a-big-night-for-the-real-tony-
mendez/2013/01/14/16579a70-5e63-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_blog.html). Washington Post. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20130121081154/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post
/golden-globes-a-big-night-for-the-real-tony-mendez/2013/01
/14/16579a70-5e63-11e2-90a0-73c8343c6d61_blog.html) from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved
February 25, 2013.
3. "John George Mendez" (http://records.ancestry.com/john_george_mendez_records.ashx?pid=128451073).
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094346/http://records.ancestry.com
/john_george_mendez_records.ashx?pid=128451073) from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved
January 27, 2015.
4. John G. Mendez's Death Certificate (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1
/TH-1942-25462-16063-69?cc=2053817&wc=M6PJ-GP8:351141301,351213101)
5. "Neva June Tognoni" (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20628266). Archived (https://web.archive.org
/web/20180418093148/https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20628266) from the original on April 18, 2018.
Retrieved January 27, 2015.
6. Tony Mendez's Birth Certificate (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1
/TH-1951-25462-20579-86?cc=2053817&wc=M6PJ-KM9:351141001,351148601)
7. "Antonio J. Mendez" (http://thebestreviews.com/author2207). The Best Reviews. September 17, 2002.
Retrieved October 6, 2012.
8. Neva June Tognoni's Birth Certificate (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1
/TH-1951-25464-626-94?cc=2053817&wc=M6PJ-K29:351141301,351154601)
9. Rico, Jack. "Exclusive! Argo's real Tony Mendez: "I'm not Hispanic" " (https://web.archive.org
/web/20130406233958/http://showbizcafe.com/en/interviews/exclusive-argos-real-tony-mendez-im-not-
hispanic/2992#). ShowBizCafe.com. Archived from the original (http://showbizcafe.com/en/interviews
/exclusive-argos-real-tony-mendez-im-not-hispanic/2992) on April 6, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
10. Rico, Jack. "Argo's real Tony Mendez: "I'm not Hispanic" " (http://nbclatino.com/2013/01/10/argos-real-tony-
mendez-im-not-hispanic/). ShowBizCafe.com. NBC Latino. Retrieved March 15, 2013.

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Tony Mendez - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mendez

11. Esparza, Moctesuma. "Ben Affleck's Argo and the whitewashing of the Mexican-American"
(http://www.pontealdia.com/primer-plano/ben-affleck-s-argo-and-the-whitewashing-of-the-mexican-
american.html). Al Día (Philadelphia). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130130073237/http:
//www.pontealdia.com/primer-plano/ben-affleck-s-argo-and-the-whitewashing-of-the-mexican-american.html)
from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
12. Esparza, Moctezuma. "Ben Affleck's Argo and Whitewashing Mexican-Americans" (http://www.newstaco.com
/2012/12/07/ben-afflecks-argo-and-whitewashing-mexican-americans/). Al Día (Philadelphia). News Taco.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130124020458/http://www.newstaco.com/2012/12/07/ben-afflecks-
argo-and-whitewashing-mexican-americans/) from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved February 26,
2013.
13. Carswell, Simon. "The agent behind the 'Argo' mask" (http://www.irishtimes.com/news/the-agent-behind-the-
argo-mask-1.1314275). The Irish Times. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035518/http:
//www.irishtimes.com/news/the-agent-behind-the-argo-mask-1.1314275) from the original on March 4, 2016.
Retrieved March 15, 2013.
14. Melendez, Victor. "Tony Mendez: The Real Life James Bond" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130210101020
/http://www.oyemag.com/index.php/tony-mendez-cia/). Open Your Eyes. Archived from the original
(http://www.oyemag.com/index.php/tony-mendez-cia/) on February 10, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
15. "Antonio Mendez: Author of the Master of Disguise and Spy Dust" (https://web.archive.org
/web/20120925071510/http://www.themasterofdisguise.com/bio_Antonio.html). Themasterofdisguise.com.
Archived from the original (http://www.themasterofdisguise.com/bio_Antonio.html) on September 25, 2012.
Retrieved October 6, 2012.
16. Gardner, Karen (December 11, 2011). "Undercover no more" (http://www.fredericknewspost.com/archive
/article_d8437357-9bd5-5e3b-bdb6-d7fdc9542998.html). Frederick News-Post. Retrieved December 5, 2012.
17. "A Tribute to the Oyster Tonger, A Chesapeake Waterman" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100827010933
/http://www.annmariegarden.org/ArtAndNature/Collection/Permanent/index.htm). Annmarie Garden. 1994.
Archived from the original (http://www.annmariegarden.org/ArtAndNature/Collection/Permanent/index.htm) on
2010-08-27.
18. "Three Memoirs from Former CIA Officers" (https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-
publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no3/html_files/Three_Memoirs_10.htm). CIA. Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20120927154905/https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence
/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol49no3/html_files/Three_Memoirs_10.htm) from the original on
September 27, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
19. "Nonfiction Book Review: SPY DUST: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations That Helped
Win the Cold War, as Authorized by the CIA by Antonio J. Mendez, Author, Antonio, Author, Jonna Mendez,
Joint Author , with Bruce Henderson. Atria $26 (320p) ISBN 978-0-7434-2852-1"
(https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7434-2852-1). PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
20. Reporter, Jenifer B. McKim-. "Book review:'Argo:How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious
Rescue in History' by Antonio Mendex and Matt Baglio - The Boston Globe" (https://www.bostonglobe.com
/arts/2012/09/20/book-review-argo-how-cia-and-hollywood-pulled-off-most-audacious-rescue-history-antonio-
mendex-and-matt-baglio/vKdZOeTRi0KtZ9zPhpszQI/story.html). BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2019-01-21.
21. "John Hollister Hedley" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121031021156/http://www2.mssu.edu/international
/america/hedley.htm). Missouri Southern State University. Archived from the original (http://www2.mssu.edu
/international/america/hedley.htm) on October 31, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
22. "Errol Morris' First Person: The Complete Series" (http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/17112/errol-morris-first-
person-the-complete-series/). DVD Talk. Retrieved 2019-01-20.
23. The Little Grey Man (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129560/), retrieved 2019-01-20
24. Owens, Donna M. " "Argo" subject now battling Parkinson's" (http://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-hs-tony-
mendez-parkinsons-20150520-story.html). baltimoresun.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org
/web/20181026025113/http://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-hs-tony-mendez-parkinsons-20150520-story.html)
from the original on October 26, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.

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Tony Mendez - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mendez

25. Kilkenny, Kate (January 19, 2019). "Tony Mendez, Former CIA Officer Portrayed in 'Argo,' Dies at 78"
(https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tony-mendez-dies-cia-officer-portrayed-argo-was-78-1177552). The
Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 19, 2019.

External links
"Review of Master of Disguise" (https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications
/csi-studies/studies/vol46no1/article09.html), Studies in Intelligence v. 46 #1 (2002)
A Classic Case of Deception (https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications
/csi-studies/studies/winter99-00/art1.html) Mendez on the background of the Canadian Caper, Studies in
Intelligence, Winter 1999–2000
"Tony Mendez, clandestine CIA hero of Ben Affleck's 'Argo,' reveals the real story behind film smash"
(http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/oct/10/hollywood-cant-make-this-up-argo-recounts-the-
cia-/?page=all). The Washington Times. October 10, 2012.

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