Bob Sidell
Biography:
Bob Sidell has been one of Hollywood's top make-up artists for over 30 years and is a four-time Emmy Award nominee. Bob is a popular and articulate speaker who gives beauty lectures and seminars around the country on a regular basis. He is also very actively involved with a number of charitable organizations including fund-raising and donations for St. Judes Children's Hospital. In 1989 he was honored by St. Judes Research Center with the distinguished Founders Award. In addition, nearly 25 years ago, Mr. Sidell helped spearhead a hoax that lasted several months, spanned two continents, and resulted in the escape of six Americans trapped in Iran during the Embassy hostage situation that began on November 4, 1979.
Past Shows:
Escape from Iran
Hollywood make-up artist Bob Sidell shared the story of his recruitment by the CIA in order to help rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. The six had managed to escape from the main group of hostages at the embassy but were hiding out in Tehran, unable to leave the country. It was at this point that Sidell said he was contacted by the CIA's "chief of disguise" Tony Mendez about creating a cover story for the six escapees in order to get them of Iran. They came up with a phony movie company that was supposedly shooting a sci-fi movie called "Argo" in Tehran, and the six escapees were to pose as members of the film crew. Sidell explained how they created a fake production company in L.A. and took out ads in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter announcing the project. CIA operatives posing as part of the film production got into Iran and explained the cover story to the escapees, who became adept at playing the roles of the movie crew, Sidell detailed. Subsequently, t ... More »
Host: George Noory