Tony mendez is no longer a spy for the cia, but the qualities that helped make him one of the best his wit and unassuming personality were on full display oct. Oct 10, 2012 tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo, reveals the real story behind film smash. The moscow rules will be available for sale and signing at the event. A classic case of deception mendez on the background of the canadian caper, studies in intelligence, winter 19992000 tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo, reveals the real story behind film smash. Former cia officer portrayed in argo film dead at 78. Tony mendez, the cia officer at the heart of the true story of the exfiltration of six american diplomats during the iran hostage crisis in 1979, speaks to the media. Navy civilians did not identify the employer, but it carried the whiff of. Book signing with jonna mendez the moscow rules in hagerstown, md. Mendez is portrayed by ben affleck in the acclaimed 2012 thriller argo. His most recent book is argo, which tells the story of the operation he ran to rescue six americans hiding in the canadian embassy in tehran during the hostage crisis. It is within tony mendezs area of expertise that the book shines as he.
These books are highly recommended reading for new recruits in the us intelligence community, and are part of the curriculum at universities and in the intelligence community. Tell us when your birthday is to receive a gift on your special day. I found it to be very fascinating, and worth reading. Book signing with jonna mendez the moscow rules visit. The book was approved the day before tony mendez died.
The cia and the canadian government collaborated on a rescue plan, and it falls to cia exfiltration expert tony mendez and his team to get them out. Former cia agent talks disguise, new book at frederick. His marriage to karen mendez resulted in three children, including an artist son named antonio tobias mendez. That all was the work of tony mendez, the agent who at that time was chief of a cia branch described as having operational responsibility. Nevada man details his years as master of disguise for the cia in a new book las vegas sun newspaper las vegas sun. Tony mendez, clandestine cia hero of ben afflecks argo. He eschewed the life of a hoodlum, working days on mechanical. Tony and jonna mendez host a book signing following their special session. Washington county arts council 14 west washington street, hagerstown, md 21740 call 301792 or. On november 4, 1979, iranian militants stormed the american embassy in tehran and captured dozens of american hostages, sparking a 444day ordeal and a. The master of disguise, site of tony and jonna mendez, former cia intelligence officers with 52 years of combined service. Tony mendez, on whose book the movie argo was based, was the distinguished speaker on feb. He is known for his work on late show with david letterman 1993. The top state of residence is california, followed by texas.
What are some of your favorite stories of spies in war. Eureka native shares details of cia mission turned movie. The book is a thrill ride for spy nerds such as myself who simply wish to read and learn about everything spy related. Lbw foundation to host argo mastermind the andalusia. Jul 18, 2019 join jonna for the launch of the mendezs new book the moscow rules tactics that helped america win the cold war, where she and her late husband tony tell the story of the intelligence breakthrough that turned the odds in americas favor. Oct 20, 2014 tony the angry cuecard guy and other letterman staffers. His most recent book is argo, which tells the story of the operation he ran to rescue. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Thanks to tony mendezs extraordinary talent, the cia was able to elude kgb surveillance to. Join facebook to connect with tony mendez and others you may know. The book treasury daily shipping from nashville, tn.
A cia agent remembers the political drama argo is based on the real story of a ciaplanned rescue in revolutionary iran. Tony mendez, the cia master of disguise played by ben affleck in the oscar. When i was eleven, i saw how much fun he was having in. Moscow rules by tony mendez and jonna mendez is out today and i have to say i couldnt be happier.
On july 4th jesse and 3 friends drove from maryland to las vegas with his brother ians ashes. Tony mendez, the former cia technical operations officer who orchestrated the 1980 rescue of six american diplomats from iran and who was. How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran and from tony mendez s memoir, the master of disguise 1999. Tony mendez phone, address, background info whitepages. Tony believes that focused ultrasound is the future and may one day. Jun 27, 2008 the master of disguise is, in fact, a master of deception, and mendez s true stories of his cia operations are inspiring lessons in illusion. Sign and view the guest book, leave condolences or send flowers. Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. Its all in this book the good, the bad, and the ugly, unflinchingly revealed. Jun 10, 2019 this is just one of many spy tales in a new book, the moscow rules, by tony and jonna mendez, a couple who both had long careers at the cia.
The stylists at tony mendez beauty salon in everett can provide you with the musthave hair colors and cuts of the season. The mendez s have written four books, the moscow rules, argo, spy dust, and the master of disguise, which are currently available on this site. The book provides a comprehensive history of tony mendezs background in childhood and how this. Tony mendez 1940 2019 was the excia agent who led the daring rescue of six u. The true story behind ben afflecks globewinning film former cia deputy director michael morell also tweeted that mendez was one of the best officers. The new book, the moscow rules, by jonna mendez and her late husband tony, paints a fascinating portrait of what it was like to be a spy in moscow during the cold war. Tony and jonna mendez are former cia intelligence officers with 52 years of combined service. Tony mendez, the spy who inspired the 2012 thriller movie argo, passed away saturday after a battle with parkinsons disease. Mendez currently lives and works in his studios and gallery on his farm in maryland with his wife.
Share your condolences, send flowers, find funeral home information. In 1976, tony mendez and his future wife jonna were cia operatives in moscow at one of the most dangerous moments in the cold war. Argo drew its inspiration from a 2007 article in wired magazine written by joshuah bearman titled the great escape. Theodosia writes me a letter every day im keeping the bed warm while her husband is away hes on the british side in georgia hes trying to keep the colonies in line but he. What annoyed me the most, was a feeling i had once i was done with the book. Tehran and captured dozens of american hostages, sparking a 444day ordeal and a. Oct 15, 2014 tony mendez, the retired cia agent who was played by ben affleck in the movie argo, has revealed that he is suffering from parkinsons disease in order to help seek more alternative treatments. Tony mendez, former cia technical operations officer, at the premiere of. Jan 21, 2019 former cia officer tony mendez, whose 1980 rescue operation saved six americans trapped in iran during the revolution, died at 78. The average tony mendez is around 50 years of age with around 57% falling in to the age group of 5160. Gates, former director of the central intelligence agency and former u. Tony mendez had one of the best jobs in all of show business cuecard guy for the late show with david letterman but he saw his plum gig vanish. How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran and from tony mendezs memoir, the master of disguise 1999. Tony mendez is a retired cia officer who worked undercover for 25 years.
Washington and lees contact committee will present an evening with former cia agent tony mendez on thursday, feb. Following his first wifes death, mendez married fellow cia agent jonna goeser. We found 121 records in 28 states for tony mendez in the us. Former cia agent gives argo high marks for accuracy. Oct 12, 2012 tony mendez, director, producer alexandre desplat composer music score, conductor alexandre desplat composer music score, conductor alfonso gomezrejon second unit director amy herman coproducer, unit production manager amy herman coproducer, unit production manager antonio j. The true, declassified account of cia operative tony mendez s daring rescue of american hostages from iran that inspired the criticallyacclaimed film directed by and starring ben affleck, and costarring john goodman, alan arkin, and bryan cranston. A riveting story of secret identities and international intrigue, argo is the gripping account of the historymaking collusion between hollywood and highstakes espionage. It was a blind ad in a newspaper that caught tony mendez s eye in 1965. Wcac is honored to host former chief of disguise for the cia, jonna mendez at the gallery. A family statement and his literary agent confirmed that antonio tony mendez died saturday at an assistedliving center in frederick, md.
Tony the angry cuecard guy and other letterman staffers. Though there are other mendez books not to mention an oscarwinning film the moscow rules is the one everybody will remember, jonna mendez said friday during a book signing. A very brave cia officer, tony mendez, using commercial cover, entered iran with. Tony mendez, reallife argo cia hero, reveals he has. Soviets kept files on all foreigners, studied their patterns, tapped their phones, and even planted listening devices within the us embassy.
There is truly no better place to go for your hair needs than tony mendez beauty salon, so get your name on the books today. Thanks to tony mendez s extraordinary talent, the cia was able to elude kgb surveillance to carry out highrisk, highpayoff operations with impunity until tripped up by traitors within our own ranks. Tony mendez, left, stands next to his sister nancy wilson of elko and her husband, steve, during a book signing in las vegas. Book signing for his new book, the master of disguise.
Yes, i want free oneday delivery with amazon prime. The moscow rules with jonna mendez calendar spy museum. The book also discusses the stories of the turncoats in the service and those defectors from the other side who lost big. These books are highly recommended reading for new recruits in the us intelligence community, and are part of the curriculum at. The problem with memoirs by exsecret agents is that. The moscow rules offers tribute to tony mendez and the. If youve seen the movie you know the ending, so ill just say its a brilliant book, and a on november 4, 1979, iranian. Tim weiner has won the pulitzer prize and the national book award for reporting. How the 6 us diplomats escaped from iran when the american embassy was taken over is explained in this book.
Apr 09, 20 and this week he received another honour, but from a less conventional source scotlands harris tweed industry. Secretary of defense, in his book from the shadows this is a fascinating story about how tony mendez and the cia used a bit of technical expertise and a lot of daring and courage to rescue american hostages in iran. On november 4, 1979, iranian militants stormed the american embassy in tehran and captured dozens of american hostages, sparking a 444 day ordeal. The mendezs have written four books, the moscow rules, argo, spy dust, and the master of disguise, which are currently available on this site. Mendez, tony american intelligence official britannica. The title refers to ten guidelines used by cia operatives stationed in moscow during the cold war. Tony and jonna mendez, former cia technical operations officers, drew approximately 450 guests to the occhiato university center ballroom with their talk about the reallife mission and how it differed from. Nevada man details his years as master of disguise for the. Mendez book author barbara augustusjohnson key makeup barry. I am also coauthor of spy dust and the forthcoming moscow rules, with my husband, tony, who was the basis for the lead character in argo.
In 1976, tony mendez and his future wife jonna were cia operatives in moscow at one. How the cia and hollywood pulled off the most audacious. Cia agent who inspired argo amazed by oscar win cbs news. Im jonna mendez, the former chief of disguise for the cia. A captivating guide to the history of persia, starting from the ancient achaemenid, parthian, and sassanian empires to the safavid, afsharid, and qajar dynasties. Entering into the secret service because of his artistic ability, tony mendez became a copier of documents first, then expanded his horizons into disguise to help with surveillance and countersurveillance. For my entire life one fixture in the neighborhood was an old lithuanian couple who lived alone in a giant, ancient and dilapitated house in the center of the neighbor. When asked, where did my love of filmmaking come from. Antonio joseph mendez november 15, 1940 january 19, 2019 was an american technical operations officer for the central intelligence agency cia, who specialized in support of clandestine and covert cia operations. Tony mendez first revealed his story to cbs news david martin in 1997, years before ben affleck turned it into an awardwinning film. Antonio mendez finally details the extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation he led more than three decades ago.
Ben affleck pays tribute to tony mendez after argo spy. Tony mendez was born on november 15, 1940 in eureka, nevada, usa as antonio joseph mendez. Log in or sign up for facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Antonio mendez and his future wife jonna were cia operatives. More to the point, he has taken examples from such trickery, and applied the principles like a masterful conjurer. I grew up in a small neighborhood in massachusetts that built up after the war. Learn more about the moscow rules, the most recent of their four books. Jonna mendez said she did not think he was holding on to hear about the book, but he did know that it would be published before his death. The last thing laingen told golacinski before signing off was to make sure that. Strangerthanfiction mission snuck six americans out of khomeinis iran. Former cia spymaster tony mendez spoke publicly for the first time about. The true story author and former cia agent antonio mendez photo courtesy joanna mendez on november 4, 1979, iranian militants stormed the american embassy in tehran and captured dozens of american hostages, sparking a 444 day ordeal and a quake in global politics that still reverberates today. Tony mendez, retired central intelligence agency cia operative and mastermind behind argo, one of the most creative and daring rescue operations in history and the basis for the awardwinning movie, will be in andalusia on june 20 for the lbw community college foundations annual scholarship benefit dinner. Argo mastermind tony mendez announces battle with parkinsons.
This book narrates how tony mendez, a cia agent, managed to rescue six american diplomats who were hiding in tehran after the embassy was taken. While affleck, who also directed the film, was praised for his evocation of tension and. Mendez shoots down every idea suggested to him for extracting the six houseguests of the canadian ambassador but later has the idea of disguising them as a canadian film crew. In fact, jonna mendez said, we actually heard from the cia the day before he died that they had cleared everything. Dec 04, 2011 a talk with ben affleck and tony mendez the carpetbagger the new york times duration. This is a fascinating story about how tony mendez and the cia used a bit of technical expertise and. It should not be a surprise that mendez is something of an amateur magician. Excia agent tony mendez explains how he hatched a hairy plan to rescue six americans hiding in tehran, on which the film argo was based. Im jonna mendez and i am the cias former chief of disguise and am on the advisory board for the international spy museum.
He is known for his work on argo 2012, our man in tehran 20 and argo. Former cia officer, eureka native, dead at 78 local. Ian died over a year ago, much too young, and was going to be put to rest. The operation inspired the warner brothers feature film of the same name.
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