Jimmy Medina; Actor, Creator of Trendy Clubs

Jimmy Medina, 33, stage, film and television actor and creator of trendy late-night clubs. A Miami native, Medina moved to Los Angeles to study theater at Cal Arts. Popular on smaller stages, he earned appreciative reviews for his work in plays such as “First Class” at Nosotros and “Robbers” at the Actors Studio. He appeared in television series including “WIOU,” “Quantum Leap” and “McGyver.” He also appeared in the films “Awakenings,” “Havana,” “Mambo Kings,” “Article 99” and “The Class of 1999.” During the last four years, Medina and his partner, Bryan Rabin, founded a series of popular small nightclubs including The Lounge, Prague, Highball and Cherry, repeatedly winning the designation “best L.A. club” from Details magazine. Medina also was a major fund-raiser in the battle against AIDS, organizing charitable events and securing rock bands to appear at them. On Monday in Los Angeles of the complications of AIDS.