Top Entertainment Agent Representing Magic Johnson

Brace yourself, Hollywood: The man known as the most powerful agent in the entertainment industry, whose clients include such heavyweights as Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman and Dan Aykroyd, has a new big name in his stable of talent: Magic Johnson.

The Laker superstar, who once vowed he’d never go Hollywood but has since expressed an interest in show business, has signed on with Michael Ovitz, the president and co-founder of Creative Artists Agency. Ovitz has been secretly negotiating with Laker owner Jerry Buss on a restructured contract for Johnson, negotiations that should conclude by the end of this week.

Ovitz, 41, who had a piece of such mega-hit movies as “Tootsie” and “Ghostbusters” and represents such directors as Sydney Pollack, Ivan Reitman and Peter Hyams, is a Forum regular at Laker games. It is believed that Johnson is the first athlete Ovitz will represent.

“I didn’t know about it, but it’s a great marriage,” said Irving Azoff, a music industry agent and friend of Johnson. “It makes absolute sense. If CAA is going into the sports business, they’ll be real successful.

“They’ll certainly explore all kinds of entertainment opportunities. I love Magic Johnson. That smiling face--he’s an untapped wealth. And there’s nobody better than Ovitz. He’s definitely the most powerful agent in town.”

Ovitz, 41, is the central figure in the management team Johnson has assembled in the last few months since breaking with his former agent, Chicago attorney George Andrews, last summer.

There have been reports that Andrews--who also represented Johnson’s friends, Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre--may file a suit to recover money he said is owed him by Johnson, but other sources indicate that the matter may be resolved without court action.

Other members of Johnson’s management team include attorney John Argue, a key member of the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee; Lon Rosen, who handles Johnson’s endorsements, and accountant Pat Harris, a vice president of finance for Buss’ California Sports, Inc.

Johnson has had small roles in a couple of TV series in the last year. His association with Creative Artists could lead to more substantial acting roles as well as possible involvement in the production of films.