Orphaned at an early age and reunited with his family two years later in New York City, Reed started working Vaudeville Houses as a chewing gum peddler.

His trademark on the show was the slow burn in which his reaction would go from restrained anger until he reached his boiling point and would explode.

During the 1964–1965 season, Reed portrayed business executive Damon Burkhardt in The Cara Williams Show.

He continued to work on Broadway and in sitcoms through the 1960s, appearing in various episodes of Bewitched, The Donna Reed Show, Beverly Hillbillies and I Dream of Jeannie.

A book about his life and career titled You Grew Up, written by Paul Reed Jr. was released in 2010 and is available through Bear Manor Media.