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Ben Affleck pays his respects to late spy who inspired hit film Argo

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency spy who inspired the script for Ben Affleck’s Oscars hit Argo has passed away.

Agent Tony Mendez, who smuggled six American diplomats out of Iran in 1980 during a hostage crisis by posing as a film producer, died at 78 after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Ben has paid his respects to the real-life man he portrayed in the Academy Award-winning 2012 espionage film he also directed by saluting Mendez’s service on Twitter.

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“Tony Mendez was a true American hero,” the star wrote. “He was a man of extraordinary grace, decency, humility and kindness. He never sought the spotlight for his actions, he merely sought to serve his country. I’m so proud to have worked for him and to have told one of his stories. #RIPTonyMendez”.

Argo earned 12 nominations and won three Oscars, including trophies for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing, at the 85th Academy Awards.

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