I think he was a bit plain and tubby for the role myself but he apparently came close to replacing Connery with his reputation for fighting and drinking scaring off the studio.
An anecdote holds that Reed could have been chosen to play James Bond. In 1969, Bond franchise producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were looking for a replacement for Sean Connery, and Reed was mentioned as a possible choice for the role. Whatever the reason, Reed was never to play Bond. After Reed's death, the Guardian Unlimited called the casting decision, "One of the great missed opportunities of post-war British movie history".
I never thought of him and bOnd. I remember him being alittle shrt.
In this picture he reminds me of the 6 million dollar man
Chief of Staff, 007's gone round the bend. Says someone's been trying to feed him a poisoned banana. Fellow's lost his nerve. Been in the hospital too long. Better call him home.
Reed died of a heart attack in a bar after downing 'three bottles of Captain Morgan's Jamaica rum, eight bottles of German beer, and numerous doubles of Famous Grouse whiskey.' I believe he was arm wrestling some sailors at the time! There's a story that George Lazenby knocked him out in a bar in the early seventies once when Reed was sozzled and annoying people. Who knows if it's true.
In this picture he reminds me of the 6 million dollar man
