Former CIA officer portrayed in ‘Argo’ film dead at 78

Former CIA officer portrayed in ‘Argo’ film dead at 78
Antonio "Tony" Mendez, former CIA technical operations officer, poses for photographers at the premiere of the film Argo in Washington. AP Photo/Cliff Owen
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A former CIA technical operations officer who helped rescue six U.S. diplomats from Iran in 1980 and was portrayed by Ben Affleck in the film “Argo,” has died. He was 78.

A family statement and his literary agent confirmed that Antonio “Tony” Mendez died Jan. 19 at an assisted-living center in Frederick, Maryland. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease, according to the statement.