Jim Henshaw

**Jim Henshaw** (born September 28, 1949) is a Canadian producer, screenwriter, songwriter, author, blogger and former actor. He is best known for the *Wayside School* series, Elinor Wonders Why series and the series *Stickin' Around*.

## Early life and education

Henshaw was born in Bassano, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1961.

## Career

A mainstay of the Canadian theatre scene during the 1967-1969 and 1970s, he appeared in more than 50 productions of new Canadian plays, including the first performances of several works by playwright George F. Walker. His film career included such films as Doctor of Phantasm (1965), Paul (1966), *The Last Detail*, *Monkeys in the Attic*, *Lions for Breakfast*, *The Supreme Kid* and *A Sweeter Song* for which he also wrote the screenplay.

Henshaw was the voice of Daniel Mouse and Beaver Drummer in the 1978 animated film *The Devil and Daniel Mouse*, a television special created by Nelvana Productions, the Canadian animation company that worked on various television specials during this time from 1977 to 1980. In the field of animation, he is best known for playing Principal Kidswatter in original series *Wayside School* (1989-1995), Bradley in *Stickin' Around* (1993-1994), Bright Heart Raccoon in *The Care Bears Movie* and *The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation*, as well as Tenderheart Bear in *The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland* and the television series *The Care Bears Family*.

He also starred in the Star Wars-inspired animated series, *Ewoks*, as Wicket W. Warrick and provided voices for the animated feature *Heavy Metal*.

He also supplied the voice of Zipper Cat in the early version of *The Get Along Gang* and did voices in two early animated films by including *The Magic of Herself the Elf* and *Easter Fever*. Henshaw has also made a guest appearance in two episodes of *The Littlest Hobo*.

He met Louis Sachar in 1974, and he and Sachar began working on Sideways Stories from Wayside School, a children's book with elementary students.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School was published in January 1, 1977.

In 1986, He serves a story editor or producer on such series as Adderly, Friday the 13th: The Series, Top Cops, War of the Worlds. Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension, and BeastMaster. In addition to creating Top Cops, he has written more than a dozen television pilots, including Secret Service and The Lost World, He was also the creative force behind a successful series of romance films based on Harlequin Romance novels.

In April 14, 1993, He, Michele Soavi, Lee Montgomery and Mickey Knox created the show Stickin' Around.

On August 17, 1995, He announced he retired from acting.

In addition to writing, writing books, songwriting and producing, Henshaw is also the author of the Canadian show business and writing blog "The Legion of Decency".

## Biblography

### Wayside School

* Sideways Stories from Wayside School (1977)
* Wayside School is Falling Down (1989)
* Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1989)
* More Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School (1994)
* Wayside School Gets A Little Stranger (1995)
* Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom (2020)