Person

Person of New York

ALLEN Byron
ALLEN Byron
Subscribe to the person
ALLEN Byron

ALLEN
Byron

American businessman

  • Date of Birth: 22 April 1961
  • Age: 65 years old
  • In the rating: #14 Businessman

Connections 2 + 1

Content

Biography

Byron Allen Folks is an American businessman, television producer, and comedian. He is the founder of the U.S. media company Entertainment Studios, which has interests in television production, broadcasting, film production, and digital media.

Born in Detroit and later moving to Los Angeles, he initially pursued a career in stand-up comedy. After an appearance on The Tonight Show, Allen began to expand into television work, including becoming a host for NBC's Real People. In 1993, Allen established what would later become known as Entertainment Studios.

Professional career

Comedian Jimmie Walker saw Allen's stand-up act and invited the 14-year-old comedian to join his comedy writing team alongside promising young comedians Jay Leno and David Letterman. In 1979 at the age of 18, Allen made his television debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, becoming the youngest comedian to ever perform on the show; he used the appearance to learn more about the television industry.

Following his appearance on The Tonight Show, NBC cast Allen as a reporter for its series Real People—his first role on a network prime time program. Allen co-wrote and co-starred in the 1988 CBS television film Case Closed, hosted the syndicated late-night talk show The Byron Allen Show from 1989 to 1992, and toured as an opening act for musicians such as Dolly Parton, Gladys Knight, Lionel Richie, and The Pointer Sisters.

In 1993, Allen established a production company known as CF Entertainment, which would be devoted to producing low-cost non-fiction television programming; its first program would be the syndicated talk show Entertainers with Byron Allen, which featured interviews between Allen and celebrities. The interviews were filmed at hotel press junkets for upcoming films, allowing him to produce the show at a relatively low cost by leveraging equipment set up by the studio for use by the media. Allen distributed the program under a bartered model, in which it would be offered to stations at no cost, with revenue sharing on advertising sales. The business model was not initially successful, resulting in Allen's home facing multiple foreclosures, and at one point losing telephone service—requiring him to conduct business via a payphone.

The company was renamed Entertainment Studios in 2003. In 2012, Allen began forays into scripted programming with the sitcoms The First Family and Mr. Box Office. Later in the decade, Entertainment Studios began to pursue various acquisitions, including film distributor Freestyle Releasing, TheGrio, The Weather Channel, an equity stake in Sinclair Broadcast Group's acquisition of the Fox Sports Networks, and broadcast television stations. By October 2022, the company was valued at over $4.5 billion.

In February 2022, Allen made a bid to buy the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Allen was ultimately outbid by a group led by S. Robson Walton.

Rating GlobalNY.biz

Mentions in the news View all

Mentioned together View all

Born in one day View all

Astrological profile CALCULATE

Date of Birth 22 April 1961
Age 65 years old
Taurus Zodiac sign Taurus Taurus - loyal and responsible The main features of the representatives of the sign of Taurus are: serenity, endurance, as well as some passivity. They calmly endure the blows inflicted by fate, but do not retreat from the intended path. No one mana…
Bull Chinese horoscope Bull The bull is calm and reliable People born in the year of the Ox are silent, patient and calm. But their behavior hides original thoughts and intelligence. They seem to be reliable and this is the main reason why they thrive. They are cautious and lo…
Aurochs Slavic horoscope Aurochs Born under the Aurochs sign of the Slavic horoscope, people often combine mythic memory with practical steadiness — reading cycles early and standing firm for those they call their own.
Horus Egyptian horoscope Horus The Egyptian sign of Horus reflects divine patronage and a particular season of character in the ancient calendar. People born under this deity often feel motives early and carry a recognizable moral gravity.
Willow Druid horoscope Willow Willow holds intuition, soft power and creative perception. Born 15 April to 12 May, Willow people bend without breaking and feel what is left unspoken.
Mesha Indian horoscope Mesha The Vedic rashi Mesha carries a sidereal rhythm of Jyotish — temperament, dharma leanings, and the ruling graha color how a person acts and chooses.
Dahlia Flower horoscope Dahlia Born under Dahlia in the flower horoscope, people often find strength in beauty, atmosphere, and the quiet symbolism of their birth bloom.
Taurus — 1st decan Decan horoscope Taurus — 1st decan The Taurus — 1st decan decan refines your zodiac sign with a sub-ruler accent — temperament, decision style, and inner strengths differ even within the same sun sign.

This day is celebrated: Pinup Day

Horoscope Taurus: horoscope for today, horoscope for tomorrow, horoscope for week, horoscope for month, horoscope for year, 金牛座 星座运势, tử vi kim ngưu, ดูดวง พฤษภ

Days left until next birthday: 187 Days.

Profile statistic

mentions
views

Quotes

All

NASA Names Astronaut Christina Koch Acting Deputy Chief Engineer

ISAACMAN Jared
ISAACMAN Jared

Christina has seen NASA engineering from both sides of the equation: developing complex systems on the ground and trusting them with her life in space

Blondie Reopens Its New York Story With High Noon

HARRY Deborah
HARRY Deborah

This music feels grounded in the present, shaped by who we are and how we’re living now

Pedro Pascal Discovers His Most Intimidating Co-Star Is a Cello

PASCAL Pedro
PASCAL Pedro

I’d never been so afraid

Paul Bettany Reveals the Call That Rebuilt His Hollywood Career

BETTANY Paul
BETTANY Paul

Maybe my career is over

Matthew Lillard Says Cult Fame Still Has Not Won Hollywood’s Trust

LILLARD Matthew
LILLARD Matthew

Nobody ever equates me with greatness

Buy this ad slot 240×400 slot is free Write →

Events

All

Dictionary Day 16 October

On October 16, we honor the birthday of Noah Webster, an American author who was born in 1758. Webster is most famous for publishing the first diction ...

Read more >