Ken Taylor, Canadian envoy who hid Americans in residence during Iran hostage

Former Canadian diplomat Ken Taylor, fondly remembered as a hero for his role in sheltering six US citizens during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis in Tehran – a real-life drama known as the Canadian Caper – has died.

Taylor, whose courage in hiding the Americans earned him a Congressional Gold Medal and a certain amount of fame in the lower 48, passed away in New York’s Presbyterian Hospital after battling cancer, reports The Globe and Mail.

He also spent time with his grandchildren and his wife, Pat, his son said.

Despite the controversy over the credit paid to Taylor in the film, he told NPR’s Scott Simon in a 2011 interview – before the movie was released – that “not a month goes by” that a few American doesn’t approach him and shake his hand to thank him for his actions.

He was heralded as a hero in both the US and Canada for helping save the Americans in the clandestine operation.

Taylor and his wife procured Canadian passports for the six USA embassy workers, who pretended to be part of a Candian film crew.

“Taylor valiantly risked his own life by shielding a group of American diplomats from capture”. Taylor, Harper said, “represented the very best that Canada’s foreign service has to offer”.

After his return from Iran, Taylor was appointed Canada’s Consul-General in New York.

“It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of Ken Taylor”, said Harper.

“A heroic Canadian diplomat, educator and businessman”, – NDP leader Tom Mulcair.

After the Affleck movie won the Oscar and the actor mentioned Canada in his acceptance speech, the Associated Press reported Taylor’s frank response: “Finally, he mentioned Canada”. In 1980, he was made an officer of the Order of Canada.

Affleck set the record straight, saying the Central Intelligence Agency operation would not have succeeded without the help of Taylor and his fellow Canadians.