Executive producer of the critically acclaimed hit NBC sitcom "Seinfeld" entered the entertainment industry as a producer of several Charlton Heston features in the early 1980s ("The Mountain Men"; "The Awakening" both 1980; "Mother Lode" 1982). Before embarking on a showbiz career, Scheinman worked as a tennis pro and earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. He discovered an affinity for comedy as the producer of Albert Brooks' "Modern Romance" (1981) and nurtured it further as the co-producer of Rob Reiner's teen romance/road movie "The Sure Thing" (1986). The latter project initiated a long successful collaboration with Reiner; Scheinman went on to produce "Stand By Me" (1986) and "The Princess Bride" (1987) before becoming a principal owner (along with Reiner and three others) of Castle Rock Entertainment.

Scheinman produced several Reiner hits spanning several genres ("When Harry Met Sally..." 1989; "Misery" 1990; "A Few Good Men" 1992) before diversifying into directing with the gentle sports comedy "Little Big League" and screenwriting (with Alan Zweibel) with Reiner's biggest flop, "North" (both 1994). Both films featured child protagonists. Kids also figured prominently in "Homeroom" (ABC, 1989), a short-lived sitcom about an urban elementary school teacher, that Scheinman created and executive produced. He continues to work in TV, co-writing and co-producing pilots for Castle Rock.