In reality, joe and kathy stafford went to stay at the canadian ambassadors residence, while the other four remained at john sheardowns with john and his wife zena. In the movie, canada and ottawa didnt exist, said kenneth d. In 2012, ben affleck produced and starred in a movie titled argo, which is based on the book the master of disguise by tony mendez, a cia. Our man in tehran is canadas more accurate rejoinder to argo. Some canadians are grousing about the film as well. Nprs scott simon reflects on the former ambassador to irans heroic role during the 1979. Ken taylor, the former canadian ambassador to iran who was known for his role in the socalled canadian caper during the u. Updated ottawa the iranians are not the only ones who feel slighted by the movie argo, which recounts the hostage crisis of 1979. Ken taylor is the former canadian ambassador to iran who risked his life to help save the lives of six american hostages during the iran hostage crisis. Central intelligence agency operative tony mendez, the master of disguise, and the 2007 wired article by joshuah bearman, the great escape. Former canadian ambassador ken taylor satisfied with. John vernon sheardown canadian diplomat britannica.
October 15, 2015 in new york city, new york who died of stage 4 colorectal cancer. Ken taylor, the canadian ambassador to iran who concealed a group of americans at his home during the 1979 iranian hostage crisis, died. The 81yearold was most famous for his role in the 1979 covert operation known as the canadian caper, when he. Apap ben afflecks character was only in tehran a day and a half, jimmy carter, who was president. For three months, canadas ambassador to iran, ken taylor, and other canadian embassy employees hid six americans in their own quarters during the 1979 hostage crisis. Ken taylor, the canadian ambassador who helped six americans escape during the iranian hostage crisis in 1980, has died. Argo is a 2012 american historical drama thriller film directed by ben affleck. Argo gave him a supporting role, but ken taylor was a. For the first few decades after confederation, great britain handled canadas international responsibilities, but the new country soon needed its own foreign ministry. Ken taylor, canadian diplomat who helped american in iran. Ken taylor funeral honours legendary canadian diplomat. Four days later, his chief immigration officer, john sheardown, was astonished to receive a phone call from bob anders. Ken taylor risked his life to help save the lives of six american hostages during the iran crisis, a story which was retold in the blockbuster film argo, directed by ben affleck. Ken taylor, canadas ambassador to iran who sheltered americans at his residence during the 1979 iran hostage crisis has died, according to the associated press.
Kenneth ken douglas taylor, diplomat, businessman born 5 october 1934 in calgary, ab. Also, the canadian ambassador ken taylor and his wife were relegated to the role of mere overwrought, if not somewhat incompetent, bystanders. Former canadian ambassador ken taylor says he was satisfied to hear ben affleck thank canada as the director accepted the best picture oscar for the political thriller argo on sunday night. Screenwriter chris terrio adapted the screenplay from the 1999 book by the u. Ken taylor, the former canadian ambassador known for his role in the iran hostage crisis, has died, cbc news reported thursday. I invited ken taylor, canadas former ambassador to iran, to cbs news last night to discuss his role in the iranian hostage crisis as well as new declassified intelligence that reveals his.
Ken taylor former canadian ambassador to iran youtube. As tehran exploded in a fury of revolution, six american diplomats secretly escaped. Taylor, who was the canadian ambassador to iran at the time and helped six americans who. Ken taylor, canadian diplomat who helped american in iran crisis. Decades laterwhile giving a talk about the event at concordia university in montrealtaylor recalls those dangerous days and the role he played in the canadian caper, involving six american hostages bob anders. Argos original credits stated that the awards received by the canadian ambassador and his staff for their role in the evasion and escape were undeserved since it was a. Ken taylor was an ambassador for iran in canada with two videos in the cspan video library. Taylor watched the awards bash from the aol offices in new york, where he took part in a live online interview with james lipton of inside the actors studio. Ken taylor, canadas former ambassador to iran, dead at 81. How the cia used a fake scifi flick to rescue americans from tehran. Friends of ken taylor, the former canadian ambassador to iran, are shocked and upset by the way he was portrayed in argo, the new ben.
In a 2010 book, our man in tehran, canadian historian robert wright revealed. Ken taylor, kenneth douglas taylor, canadian diplomat born may 10, 1934, calgary, alta. Ken taylor, the canadian ambassador to iran who concealed a group of americans at his home during the 1979 iranian hostage crisis, died thursday. Ken taylor, the former canadian ambassador for iran and centre of the socalled canadian caper in 1979, gave a speech to the schools. Ken taylor is best remembered amongst canadians for masterminding the canadian caper in which he. For three months, ken taylor, the canadian ambassador to iranalong with his. Taylor, the canadian ambassador who helped shelter six americans after militants overran the united states embassy in tehran in 1979 and who then helped spirit them out of iran, died on. Former canadian ambassador ken taylor, whose role in rescuing u. Originally published in the britannica book of the year. This well researched and written book tells the story of the actions taken by canadian ambassador ken taylor in 1979 and 1980 that saved the lives of six american diplomats hiding in teheran after the takeover of the us embassy by terrorists.
Ken taylor, canadian envoy who hid americans during iran. On october 15 and beyond, take a moment to remember the contributions of former canadian ambassador to iran kenneth douglas ken taylor born. Ken taylor, the former canadian ambassador to iran, who has died aged 81, played a crucial role in the rescue of american diplomats during the hostage crisis in tehran in 1980, events which became. Ken taylor, former canadian ambassador to iran, who kept. Ken taylor, kenneth douglas taylor, canadian diplomat born may 10, 1934. Ken taylor, the cia and the iran hostage crisis ebook. God bless president carter, white house staff, us diplomatic core, canadian external affairs, joe clarke and ken taylors family and embassy team. Former canadian diplomat ken taylor, who sheltered six u. Last year, the ben affleck film argo the story of how american hostages were rescued from the. Toronto ap ken taylor, canadas ambassador to iran who sheltered americans at his residence during the 1979 iran hostage crisis has died. Former canadian ambassador to iran ken taylor has died. For three months, ken taylor, the canadian ambassador to iranalong with his wife and embassy staffersconcealed the americans in their homes, always with the prospect that the revolutionary government of ayatollah khomeini would exact deadly consequences.
Tiff film our man in tehran explores the true story of former canadian ambassador ken taylor and the iranian hostage crisis. Ken taylor, canadian diplomat at centre of iran hostage. Canadian diplomat ken taylor to discuss real story of iran. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that.
Ken taylor was canadas ambassador to iran on the day the u. Even before argo opened in 2012, much less won best picture the following spring, it caused controversy for the way it portrayed the historical events at the center. Kenneth douglas ken taylor, oc october 5, 1934 october 15, 2015 was a canadian diplomat. Kenneth douglas taylor, diplomat, businessman born 5 october 1934 in calgary, ab. Former canadian ambassador to iran ken taylor of documentary our man in tehran poses for a photo during the 20 toronto international film festival in toronto on thursday, sept. The canadian ambassador in iran, ken taylor, first heard of the embassy takeover from his swedish colleague, whose building overlooked the compound. Ken taylor, the canadian diplomat celebrated 30 years ago for hiding u. Joining the trade commissioner service in 1959, taylor became ambassador to iran in 1977 and was. It was there that they met canadian ambassador ken taylor, portrayed by victor garber in the argo movie. Ken taylor, former canadian ambassador to iran, dead at 81 cbc. Canadas man in tehran was a cia spy the globe and mail. Ken taylor, canadian ambassador to iran, speaks to reporters in paris, jan.
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