Byron Allen facts for kids

Byron Allen is an American businessman, TV producer, and comedian. He was born Byron Allen Folks on April 22, 1961. He started a big media company called Allen Media Group. This company makes TV shows and movies. It also owns TV channels and digital media.

Byron Allen was born in Detroit and later moved to Los Angeles. He first became famous as a stand-up comedian. After appearing on The Tonight Show, he started working more in television. He even became a host for NBC's Real People. In 1993, Allen started his own company, which later became Entertainment Studios.

Early Life and Learning

Byron Allen was born in Detroit. In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother. His mother, Carolyn Folks, worked as a publicist at NBC Studios. Young Byron often went with her to work. This is where he first became interested in show business.

When he was 14, Byron Allen started doing stand-up comedy. He performed at amateur nights in comedy clubs around Los Angeles. He went to Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Later, he studied at the University of Southern California.

Starting a Career in Entertainment

The famous comedian Jimmie Walker saw Byron Allen's comedy act. He invited the 14-year-old Byron to join his comedy writing team. Other young comedians like Jay Leno and David Letterman were also on the team.

In 1979, when he was 18, Byron Allen appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He was the youngest comedian ever to perform on the show. He used this chance to learn more about the TV industry.

After The Tonight Show, NBC hired Allen as a reporter for Real People. This was his first job on a major TV network. He also helped write and star in the 1988 CBS TV movie Case Closed. From 1989 to 1992, he hosted his own talk show, The Byron Allen Show. He also toured as an opening act for famous singers like Dolly Parton and Lionel Richie.

Building a Media Company

In 1993, Allen started his own production company. It was first called CF Entertainment. The company focused on making low-cost TV shows. Its first show was Entertainers with Byron Allen. On this show, Allen interviewed many celebrities.

He filmed these interviews at hotel press events for new movies. Movie companies would set up equipment for the media. This helped Allen make his show without spending a lot of money. He offered the show to TV stations for free. In return, they shared the money from advertising. This business idea was tough at first. Allen's home faced problems, and he even lost phone service. He had to use a payphone for business calls.

In 2003, his company changed its name to Entertainment Studios. In 2012, Allen started making scripted TV shows. These included sitcoms like The First Family and Mr. Box Office. Later, Entertainment Studios began buying other companies. These included the film company Freestyle Releasing and The Weather Channel. By October 2022, his company was worth a lot of money.

In February 2022, Allen tried to buy the Denver Broncos football team. However, another group bought the team instead. In 2023, he also tried to buy Paramount’s BET Media Group, but that bid was not successful.

Awards and Honors

Byron Allen has received many awards for his work.

• In 2018, he was named one of the "Bloomberg 50." This list includes people who had a very successful year in business and entertainment.
• He was also honored by The Salvation Army for his community work.
• In January 2019, he received the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award. This award celebrates people who have made a big impact on television.
• He also received the Whitney Young Award in 2019.
• In February 2023, students at the Harvard Business School gave him their first "Legendary Honor."

Personal Life

Byron Allen married TV producer Jennifer Lucas in 2007. They have three children together. Allen is also on the board of governors for the Motion Picture & Television Fund. This group helps people in the entertainment industry.

Allen owns homes in several places, including Aspen, Maui, Los Angeles, and New York City. In 2022, he bought two homes in Beverly Hills, California. He also bought a large house in Malibu, California.

Lawsuit Against McDonald's

In 2021, Byron Allen's company, Allen Media Group, filed a lawsuit against McDonald's. The lawsuit claimed that McDonald's did not spend enough of its advertising money with Black-owned media companies. It said that McDonald's had a separate, smaller budget for advertising on media outlets that focused on Black viewers. Allen's company argued that this was unfair and hurt Black media owners. The case was settled out of court in 2025.

TV Shows and Movies

Byron Allen has appeared in and helped create many TV shows and movies.

Television Roles

Film Roles

Behind the Scenes Work

Byron Allen has also worked as an executive producer on many films and TV shows. This means he helps manage the making of the project.

• 47 Meters Down - Executive Producer
• 47 Meters Down: Uncaged - Executive Producer
• Arctic Dogs - Executive Producer
• Case Closed - Co-Executive Producer
• Comics Unleashed - Executive Producer
• Funny You Should Ask - Creator, Executive Producer
• The Hurricane Heist - Executive Producer
• The World's Funniest Weather - Creator, Executive Producer