An enigmatic producer of features since the 1970s, Greenhut has carved out a significant place in the American film industry without often leaving his native NYC. After studying at the University of Miami as a music major (with "a minor in the horses"), Greenhut graduated to films as a production assistant on Arthur Hiller's 1967 comedy "The Tiger Makes Out". He worked in various production capacities over the next seven years, rising through the ranks to become a production manager, assistant director and associate producer. Greenhut served in that last capacity on "The Front" (1976), a Hollywood blacklist drama starring Woody Allen and made a career transforming connection. He next surfaced as the executive producer (as well as production manager) of Allen's "Annie Hall" (1977). Greenhut went on to produce or executive produce every Allen-directed film through the period musical comedy "Everyone Says I Love You" (1996). The two diehard New Yorkers enjoyed a long and enviable collaboration.
Greenhut has also produced other filmmakers' works largely set in the NYC area such as Milos Forman's "Hair" (1979), "Arthur" (1981) and Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" (1983). He has also collaborated extensively with Mike Nichols ("Heartburn" 1986; "Working Girl" 1988; "Postcards From the Edge" 1990; "Regarding Henry" 1991; and "Wolf" 1994). Greenhut traveled to relatively farflung locales to work with director Penny Marshall on "Big" (1988), "A League of Their Own" (1992) and "Renaissance Man" (1994).
Greenhut was richly deserving of his 1989 Crystal Apple Award from the NYC Mayor's Film Office for his contribution to New York's film industry. That same year, he was honored with the Eastman Kodak Award for lifetime achievement.