Byron Allen

About

Byron Allen Folks (born April 22, 1961), professionally known as Byron Allen, is an American businessman, film and television producer, television host and comedian. He is the founder of the American media company Allen Media Group (formerly Entertainment Studios), which has interests in television production, broadcasting, film production, and digital media and is the chairman, CEO and partial owner of American internet media and news company BuzzFeed.
He initially pursued a career in stand-up comedy. After an appearance on The Tonight Show, Allen began to expand into television work, including co-hosting NBC’s Real People (1979–1984). In 1993, Allen established what would later become known as the Allen Media Group.

Allen was born in Detroit, Michigan, 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. With Folks, he often attended the taping of shows such as Chico and the Man, Sanford and Son, and The Tonight Show at 18. He often visited The Tonight Show’s studio when…