Critic Harry Lane praised his performances for their "apparently effortless intellectual and moral authority, combined with ironic playfulness and rich vocal sensitivity.

[7] A member of the acting company of the Stratford Festival since its inception in 1953, he has appeared in over one hundred roles with the company, among which are Albany in King Lear (1964 and 1972); the Duke of Venice in The Merchant of Venice (1996); the White King in Alice Through the Looking-Glass (1996); the Lord Mayor in Richard III (1997); the Shepherd in Oedipus Rex (1997); Merriman in The Importance of Being Earnest (2000); Mortimer in Henry VI: Revenge in France (2002).

He played in London and on stages across the North American continent, including the Manitoba Theatre Centre, South Coast Repertory in Southern California, and in New York.

[11] One of his students, Jon Lovitz, stated that Needles "was the nicest teacher, ever",[11] and later based the Saturday Night Live character Master Thespian on him.

[12] Colm Feore recalled his generosity to younger actors, especially noting the 1986 production of A Winter's Tale, when, as Leontes, he had to physically throw Antigonus (played by Needles) around the stage.

"[2] Feore also noted the impact Needles had on succeeding generations of actors on the Stratford stages: With his stories, he gave us some comfort, some sense of baton-passing.