the Benevolent Imposter

The Benevolent Imposter is the story of Gwynn Rodrigo Medina. He was born on April 3rd, 1961 in Boyle Heights, California, somewhat East of the Los Angeles River. He would die less than forty years later in the chic suburb of Paris known as Sceaux.

In those short years, he would accomplish much. He would earn and lose vast sums of money, would travel to every corner of the world, and some of the most famous and important people in the world would hold him in high esteem. He would achieve mastery of no less than nine languages (Spanish, English, French, German, Russian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Kanauji and Hindustani). He would become a well-known scholar of philately, contemporary sculpture, silent film, and Indian poetry dating back to Vedic times. He would also break his share of hearts, leaving a trail of disappointed lovers in his wake. For many, he would become their favorite friend, even if they could never quite get a handle on him nor his exploits. He could claim confidants from the worlds of finance, modern art, anarchist separatism, concubinary, royalty, and high stakes gambling.

And he lied to them all, yet none of them much held a grudge for his enchanting deceptions.