Tony Mendez, Former CIA Officer in 'Argo' Who Rescued Americans in Iran, Dies At 78

Tony Mendez, the former CIA technical operations officer depicted in 'Argo' who rescued six American diplomats from Iran during the hostage crisis in 1980, at an assisted living facility in Frederick, Maryland. He was 78.

His book agent, Christy Fletcher, took to Twitter on Saturday, January 19, to confirmed the Argo spy's death, revealing the cause of death. Tony passed away from Parkinson’s Disease he had been diagnosed with for a more than a decade.

Christy wrote in a statement, "Early this morning, Antonio (Tony) J. Mendez finally succumbed to the Parkinson’s Disease that he had been diagnosed with ten+ years ago."

He continued,

He was surrounded with love from his family and will be sorely missed. The last thing he and his wife Jonna Mendez did was get their new book to the publisher and he died feeling he had completd writing the stories that he wanted to be told.

Here's the tweet, check it out.

I have very sad news to report. I was honored to work with Tony Mendez for twenty years and his loving wife Jonna. This is a crushing loss for his family, friends and our world. I will miss him very very much. Family statement follows #TonyMendez #argo pic.twitter.com/B3akZ6QFsZ

— Christy Fletcher (@FletcherChristy) January 19, 2019

According to the statement, Tony will be buried at the family graveyard in Nevada. The date of his memorial services, which is set to be held in a private ceremony, will be announced in the coming days.

Tony was portrayed by actor Ben Affleck in the 2012 film Argo. The film won three Oscar Awards for best picture, best film editing and best adapted screenplay at the Academy Awards 2013.

Tony was also an author who wrote three memoirs, Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History, Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations that Helped Win the Cold War and Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA.

Rest In Peace Tony Mendez!

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