He eventually went on to appear in approximately 140 feature-length sexploitation and hardcore films between 19 and from 1982 to 1985, with Deep Throat (1972) and The Devil in Miss Jones (1973) being the best known, as well as grindhouse roughies like Forced Entry (1973) and Sex Wish (1976) in the former he plays a sadistic Vietnam veteran hellbent on rape and murder – later described by Streicher as the one film he regretted appearing in – while in the latter he plays a husband-turned-vigilante seeking revenge over the rape and murder of his wife. Looking for ways to support himself, Streicher appeared in dozens of short silent stag films, often referred to as " loops", during the early 1970s. It was for this film that he changed his name to Peter Long. Cemano then starred him in his first 16 mm feature film, called The Weirdos and the Oddballs, which was later upgraded to 35 mm and released as Zora Knows Best. It was a body-painting sex scene that Streicher later described as his most painful sex experience because the tempera paint used began to dry and crack. Prior to appearing in Deep Throat, Streicher was chosen by filmmaker Eduardo Cemano to do a hardcore scene in a film called The Deviates, which had been released previously as a softcore film. His early (non-porn) acting career were principally in off-Broadway theater for La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York Theater Ensemble and National Shakespeare Company.
In 1967, he moved to East Village in Manhattan where his brother and roommate were gaining experience as actors. However he later enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, from which he received an honorable discharge following hardship leave. In 1965, at age 18, he went the University of Pittsburgh to become a dentist. Harry's father later entered the printing industry and was wealthy enough to move the family to Westchester, New York. His father Don Streicher worked as a salesman before becoming a bookmaker. Reems was born Herbert John Streicher on August 27, 1947, into a Jewish family.