World-famous private investigator, real-life superhero and El Paso icon JJ Armes has died

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — World-famous private investigator and El Paso icon JJ Armes has died. He was 92 years old.

News of his death was shared on social media by his son, Jay J. Armes III, who wrote, “It is with a heavy heart that I send this message to my family, friends and others,” adding that he died peacefully surrounded by family.

The post goes on to list JJ Armes’ amazing accomplishments that have made him nothing short of a legend.

Armes' son said his father became “one of the best, most famous and most respected private investigators in the world” as a private investigator and even had an action figure modeled after him, which sold worldwide alongside Evel Knievel action figures. He was also known for his prosthetic hands, which he lost in a childhood accident.

RELATED: The man behind the myth: Jay J. Armes

My father became one of the best, most well-known and most respected private investigators in the world. He spent his entire life working on seemingly impossible cases around the globe. As if that wasn't remarkable enough, he was an actor, successful businessman, nightclub owner, bodyguard, security company operator, deputy police officer, best-selling author, magazine publisher, two-term city councilman, U.S. government security officer, wildlife trainer, car enthusiast, father and proud grandfather.

His son goes on to say that Armes' success was based on his incredible work ethic, which he admits affected his family life.

Although this work ethic made it incredibly difficult for us as a family, especially for my mother, it was the driving force behind his success. My father took every case personally and helped thousands of people over the course of his 67-year career. His private investigation agency, The Investigators, was one of the oldest private investigation firms in the world.

Armes' achievements created an aura around him that elevated the private investigator to superhero status. His son mentions this in the post, referring to a meeting with Stan Lee, the man behind Marvel Comics.

Everyone thinks their father is a superhero. My father actually was one.

Armes' son goes on to say that he had the special pleasure of hanging out with Stan Lee, who compared his father's story to the origin story of a superhero.

According to Armes' son, Stan Lee said:

“Jay, all the superheroes I've created owe their superpowers to a tragic accident. Spiderman was bitten by a radioactive spider, Hulk was exposed to gamma rays, and Daredevil was blinded by chemicals. Your father was transformed by an explosion as a young boy and became a super detective. This is truly incredible! He will be my first real-life superhero!”

Armes' son said that although he viewed the incident in which his father's guns were taken away differently, he was impressed by Lee's statements.

His son’s contribution ends with:

While my father will be missed, his impact on others and this world will continue for years to come. His legacy lives on through me, not only as his son, but as his star student. As an international private investigator trained by his own, I am proud to not only share his name, but to continue his life's work with my own agency. I love you, Dad.

Below is his son’s Facebook post:

RELATED: A look into the estate auction of El Paso icon Jay J. Armes

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel in June on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, actor Norman Reedus — known for his roles as Daryl Dixon on the long-running horror series “The Walking Dead” and as one of the Boondock Saints — told the late-night host that he owns and treasures his Armes action figures, also referencing Armes' famous case involving Marlon Brando's son.

Reedus also mentions that he would like to play Armes in a film about the investigator's life, but he believes that actor Nicolas Cage owns the rights to Armes' life story.

Watch below:

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