Born Name:  Byron Allen Folks

Born Date:  April 22, 1961

Born Place:  Detroit, Michigan

Died Date: 

Died Place: 

Occupations:  Businessman, television producer, comedian, and philanthropist

Brief Biography:  Allen was born in Detroit, living there until 1968, when he moved to Los Angeles with his mother after her divorce. His interest in show business began during his childhood when he accompanied his mother, Carolyn Folks, to NBC Studios in Burbank where she worked as a publicist.

Early Life and Career Beginnings:
Early Start: Raised in Los Angeles by his mother, a publicist at NBC, a young Allen frequently visited the set of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Comedy Roots: He started performing stand-up at 14 and was invited by Jimmie "JJ" Walker to write comedy alongside Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Record-Breaking Performance: At 18, he became the youngest comedian to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Television Host: He co-hosted NBC's Real People (1979–1984) and later launched Entertainers with Byron Allen.

Allen Media Group (AMG):
In 1993, Allen founded his production company, transforming it into a major media conglomerate that produces and distributes content, including numerous court shows.
Key Acquisitions: In 2018, AMG acquired The Weather Channel for $300 million.
Portfolio: The company owns numerous broadcast television stations, the free-streaming app Local Now, and the news platform theGrio.
Growth: By 2022, his media group was valued at over $4.5 billion.
Industry Recognition: Inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 2019, Allen is a vocal advocate for economic inclusion and media diversity.
Philanthropy:
He serves on the Motion Picture & Television Fund Board of Governors.