Reid's first work in entertainment was as a stand-up comedian in clubs and aboard cruise liners in the early 1960s. He then became an extra playing uncredited roles in television series such as "Doctor Who" (in the story "The War Machines"), "The Saint" and "Department S". He was fired from working as Roger Moore's underwater stunt double in "The Saint" after drawing attention to Moore's thinning hair. He also worked as a stuntman for films such as "Casino Royale" (1967) and "The Dirty Dozen" (1967).