- 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).
- His son Antonio Tobias Mendez is a sculptor.
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