Schneider was born to a wealthy Jewish family[2] in New York City[3] and raised in New Rochelle, New York.[2] His father was Abraham Schneider who succeeded Harry Cohn as the president of Columbia Pictures.[2] He was the middle of two brothers, the younger Harold and the elder Stanley.[2] The Schneider tended toward the rebellious politics of the day. Briefly a student at Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, he was ultimately expelled.[4][5]