Edward Hookstratten was a powerful and influential lawyer and agent whose clients included some of the top names from the worlds of sports, entertainment and journalism. Among those he represented throughout his career were Elvis Presley, Johnny Carson, Tom Brokaw, Marcus Allen and Vin Scully.

Born in Whittier, California, Hookstratten was a star picher on his high school baseball team and received a scholarship to the University of Southern California. After graduating from Southwestern School of Law in Los Angeles, he worked for a prominent personal injury attorney. He got his first taste of show business when he took care of a traffic ticket for singer Peggy Lee.

He eventually started his own business as an entertainment lawyer and agent. In addition to Presley, Carson, Brokaw, Allen and Scully, his clients over the years included Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, Joey Bishop, Bryant Gumbel, Tom Snyder, Jessica Savitch, Dick Enberg, Phyllis George, Merlin Olsen, Dick Stockton, Pat Haden and Don Meredith

A shrewd negotiator who was widely known by the nickname "The Hook," Hookstratten also represented many sports teams' head coaches, including Pat Riley, George Allen, John Robinson, Chuck Knox and Jack Pardee. In addition, he served as general counsel of the Los Angeles Rams.

Hookstratten died Wednesday, January 22, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California. He was 83.