![Tony Mendez, 'Argo' spy who smuggled U.S. hostages out of Iran during crisis, dies at 78 - The Washington Post Tony Mendez, 'Argo' spy who smuggled U.S. hostages out of Iran during crisis, dies at 78 - The Washington Post](https://arc-anglerfish-washpost-prod-washpost.s3.amazonaws.com/public/PMKY3QA4EQI6TCATZOO6Y5Q6OM.jpg)
Tony Mendez, 'Argo' spy who smuggled U.S. hostages out of Iran during crisis, dies at 78 - The Washington Post
![Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES -](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D05129/former-cia-agent-tony-mendez-whom-the-film-argo-is-based-arrives-with-his-wife-jonna-at-the-85th-academy-awards-in-hollywood-california-february-24-2013-reuterslucas-jackson-united-states-tags-entertainment-oscars-arrivals-2D05129.jpg)
Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES -
![Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based on, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based on, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E6DNJA/former-cia-agent-tony-mendez-whom-the-film-argo-is-based-on-arrives-with-his-wife-jonna-at-the-85th-academy-awards-in-hollywood-california-february-24-2013-reuterslucy-nicholson-united-states-tagsentertainment-oscars-arrivals-2E6DNJA.jpg)
Former CIA agent Tony Mendez, whom the film "Argo" is based on, arrives with his wife Jonna at the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 24, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES
![Tony Mendez, CIA agent whose espionage masterstroke in exfiltrating US diplomats from Tehran was immortalised in the film 'Argo' – obituary Tony Mendez, CIA agent whose espionage masterstroke in exfiltrating US diplomats from Tehran was immortalised in the film 'Argo' – obituary](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/obituaries/2019/01/21/TELEMMGLPICT000186165022_1_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqUSuiNG1GFUnOQ8rbuSnk0hk1mDTumCeH_NeArSD702I.jpeg)