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Could it be that Ernest Hemingway, who came to be the embodiment of red-blooded American manliness, offered his services to the Red Menace that was communist Russia?

A book co-authored by a former KGB agent with access to Soviet-era intelligence files claims that, in 1941, Hemingway was recruited by Russian agents and "expressed his willingness and desire to help."

Using the code name "Argo," Hemingway allegedly failed to provide the Soviets with any viable or verifiable information, and they broke off contact with him by the end of the decade.

Given the ineffectiveness of his flirtation with treason -- and his heroics during World War I -- a very generous interpretation of this new information would be that Papa Hemingway was just pretending to be a fellow traveler in hopes of garnering literary material.

If these allegations bear out, Hemingway is just one of a host of famous folks who moonlighted as 007 types. After the jump, 10 other celebrity spooks who were probably more effective in their clandestine activities -- and spied for the right side.

-- Cooking show legend Julia Child worked for the OSS -- a precursor to the CIA -- during World War II.

-- Walt Disney provided information on communist activities to the FBI.

-- Jazz age entertainer Josephine Baker aided the resistance of her adopted homeland of France during World War II.

-- Frank Sinatra allegedly used his private planes to move important diplomats and documents for the CIA.

-- "Gong Show" eccentric Chuck Barris claims he was an assassin for the CIA, although the agency denies it.

-- Catcher Moe Berg couldn't hit a lick, but his German language skills proved valuable to the OSS during WWII.

-- Notorious mob boss Charles "Lucky" Luciano helped the Navy protect New York City's dock from Axis invasion.

-- Miles Copeland -- father of the Police drummer Stewart Copeland -- helped found the OSS.

-- Legendary director John Ford worked in the photography unit of the OSS.

-- Noted character actor Sterling Hayden worked for the OSS and actually ran guns through German lines.

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