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.
Studied art at the University of Colorado and worked as a professional artist before joining the CIA in 1965.
After retiring from the CIA he served on the Board of Directors of the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
At the CIA's Office of Technical Service, Mendez started out forging documents and signatures and creating counterfeit currency before he graduated to larger jobs.
At the CIA he was awarded the Intelligence Star (1980) , CIA Trailblazer Award (1997) and the Order of the Sphinx (2000).