Life Ex-CIA officer played by Ben Affleck in Oscar best-picture winner ‘Argo’ dies at 78 January 20, 2019 The Associated Press Comments Off on Ex-CIA officer played by Ben Affleck in Oscar best-picture winner ‘Argo’ dies at 78 Tony Mendez, a CIA technical operations officer who helped rescue six U.S. diplomats from Iran and was played by Ben Affleck in 'Argo,' has died.