Heineman was born in Chicago, Illinois.[1] She grew up in Rye, New York, and attended the Midland Elementary School, where her choice of career was influenced by celebrated teacher Albert Cullum; and graduated from Rye High School before attending Radcliffe College. In 1961, she made her television debut starring as Mary Jackson on the daytime soap opera, As the World Turns. She left the soap in 1966. As a child she also appeared in the prime time dramas Naked City and East Side/West Side, as well as on live television in the U.S. Steel Hour.
In 2015, Heineman appeared as Constance M. Sweeney, a judge at the center of the clerical sex abuse trials in the drama film, Spotlight.
Heineman teaches Shakespeare and other classics to home schoolers, and runs workshops at libraries and private events throughout New England and in New York City. Heineman is a board certified art therapist who brings spoken word events to seniors, and she is an experienced teacher, and the co-author of a book on teaching Shakespeare.[5]