Daphne Reed started her acting career with a recurring role on the CBS drama series The Andros Targets in 1977, followed by minor appearances in the films The Long Riders in 1980 and Melvin and Howard in the same year.
Despite receiving mixed reviews, her performance in the film The Clan of the Cave Bear in 1986, which tells the story of a neanderthal woman named Iza, garnered positive reviews from the New York Times.
Reed's next notable role was in the HBO miniseries Tanner '88 in 1988, directed by Robert Altman, where she played T.J. Cavanaugh, a fictional presidential campaign manager. Her performance earned her an ACE Award for Actress in a Dramatic Series.
In 1990, Reed starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the box office hit Kindergarten Cop, playing the comedic role of Phoebe, a hypoglycemic police partner.
Throughout her career, Reed has continued to appear in film and television projects, but has also established herself as a respected stage actress. She has received numerous awards for her stage performances, including two Drama Desk Awards for Featured Actress - Play in 1978 and 1979, and an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence - Performance in 1984.
