Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1906-01-05
Day of Death
1962-02-13 (56 years old)
Place of Birth
North Carolina, USA
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Biography
Fred "Snowflake" Toones was a character actor who appeared in over 200 films between 1928 and 1951. He often worked under contract for Republic Pictures, appearing in about 40 of its films.
He played a bootblack or shoeshine man in at least six of his movies, and Toones actually ran the shoeshine stand at Republic Studios.
He first appeared as a porter in 1932 in The Hurricane Express and was usually typecast as a porter - appearing in over 50 films in such a role. He also played a variety of other service-oriented or domestic worker roles such as stable grooms, janitors, elevator operators, valets, cooks, bellhops, doormen, butlers, and bartenders. Like other actors of the time, i.e. Anna May Wong and Franklin Pangborn, Toones is a prime example of racial and social stereotyping in the Hollywood film industry.
His standard characterization was that of a middle-aged "colored" man with a high-pitched voice and childlike mannerisms.
"Snowflake" was the stage name Toones was best known by, and he used this name as his credit as early as his third film, 1931's Shanghaied Love. Likewise, in Shanghaied Love and over 35 other films, "Snowflake" was also Toones' character name.
He acted in films such as Mississippi (1935), Hawk of the Wilderness (1938), and Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939) with Bruce Bennett and in many "B" westerns such as The Lawless Nineties (1936) with John Wayne. He also appeared in dozens of two-reelers such as Columbia's Woman Haters (1934) with the Three Stooges, and had a bit role in Laurel and Hardy's classic feature Way Out West (1937). Toones is also a familiar face in four Preston Sturges comedies: Twentieth Century (1934), Remember the Night (1940), Christmas in July (1940), and The Palm Beach Story (1942).
He died on 13 February 1962 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Known For
Acting
(1947)
Bells of San Angelo
as The Cook
(1947)
Where There's Life
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
(1946)
Two Sisters from Boston
as Porter (uncredited)
(1946)
G.I. War Brides
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
(1946)
(1946)
Fool's Gold
as Speed
(1945)
The Lost Weekend
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
(1944)
Barbary Coast Gent
as Train Porter
(1944)
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake
(1943)
Haunted Ranch
as Sam
(1943)
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
as Joe the Valet (uncredited)
(1943)
Land of Hunted Men
as Snowflake
(1943)
Who's Superstitious?
as Dice Player
(1943)
Spy Train
as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
(1943)
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
as Shooting Galley Man
(1942)
The Palm Beach Story
as Colored Bartender
(1942)
Silver Queen
as Butler (uncredited)
(1942)
Obliging Young Lady
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
(1942)
Queen of Broadway
as Mose (as Snowflake)
(1942)
Groom and Bored
as Train Porter
(1941)
The Great Man's Lady
as Pogey
(1941)
Sleepers West
as Waiter (uncredited)
(1941)
Repent at Leisure
as Rufe
(1941)
Golden Hoofs
as Snowflake
(1941)
Back in the Saddle
as Train Porter (uncredited)
(1941)
A Missouri Outlaw
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1941)
Two Gun Sheriff
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1941)
The Apache Kid
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1941)
Death Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1940)
Remember the Night
as Rufus
(1940)
Gaucho Serenade
as New York City Pier Worker
(1940)
Christmas in July
as Sam (uncredited)
(1940)
The Biscuit Eater
as Sermon
(1940)
Pardon My Berth Marks
as Train Porter
(1940)
Carolina Moon
as Sam (uncredited)
(1940)
Seventeen
as Genesis
(1940)
Texas Terrors
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1940)
One Man's Law
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1940)
Frontier Vengeance
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1940)
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
as Train Porter
(1940)
I Want a Divorce
as Porter
(1940)
The Tulsa Kid
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
(1939)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Porter (uncredited)
(1939)
Dodge City
as Willie (uncredited)
(1939)
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Train Porter
(1939)
King of the Turf
as Groom
(1939)
Daredevils of the Red Circle
as Snowflake
(1939)
Navy Secrets
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
(1938)
Red River Range
as Bellhop (uncredited)
(1938)
Under the Big Top
as Juba
(1938)
The Nightshirt Bandit
as Sam
(1938)
Riders of the Black Hills
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
(1938)
Hawk of the Wilderness
as George
(1937)
A Star Is Born
as Witness (uncredited)
(1937)
Way Out West
as Janitor
(1937)
Smart Blonde
as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
(1937)
Fair Warning
as Porter
(1937)
Gunsmoke Ranch
as Snowflake (unconfirmed)
(1937)
Youth on Parole
as Redcap (uncredited)
(1937)
She Loved a Fireman
as Joe
(1937)
(1937)
A Day at Santa Anita
as Cloudy (uncredited)
(1937)
The Duke Comes Back
as Snowflake
(1937)
Range Defenders
as Cook
(1937)
Off to the Races
as Ebbie
(1937)
Wild Horse Rodeo
as Snowflake
(1936)
Come and Get It
as Snowflake (uncredited)
(1936)
Born to Fight
as Snowflake
(1936)
The Gorgeous Hussy
as Horatius (uncredited)
(1936)
Gold Diggers of 1937
as Snowflake (uncredited)
(1936)
The Lawless Nineties
as Moses
(1936)
Big Brown Eyes
as Chalky (Uncredited)
(1936)
Florida Special
as Waiter (uncredited)
(1936)
Palm Springs
as Porter
(1936)
Wildcat Saunders
as Snowflake - the Handyman (as Snowflake)
(1936)
Freshman Love
as Mose (uncredited)
(1936)
The Green Pastures
as Zubo (uncredited)
(1936)
The Lonely Trail
as Snowflake
(1936)
Racing Blood
as Sad Sam
(1936)
Black Gold
as Snowflake
(1936)
Frontier Justice
as Snowflake
(1936)
Aces Wild
as Snowflake
(1936)
(1936)
Hair-Trigger Casey
as Snowflake
(1936)
Romance in the Air
as Janitor
(1936)
Desert Justice
as Snowflake - Bank Janitor
(1936)
College Holiday
as Porter (uncredited)
(1936)
The Peppery Salt
as Black Henchman
(1935)
Hands Across the Table
as Snowflake (uncredited)
(1935)
(1935)
Social Error
as Shadow
(1935)
Mississippi
as Leadsman (uncredited)
(1935)
A Night at the Ritz
as Porter (uncredited)
(1935)
$10 Raise
as Bootblack (uncredited)
(1935)
Stolen Harmony
as Henry (uncredited)
(1935)
Go Into Your Dance
as Snowflake
(1935)
Riddle Ranch
as Snowflake
(1935)
Speed Limited
as Vegas Station Pullman Porter
(1935)
Alibi Ike
as Night Porter
(1935)
(1935)
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
as Phone operator (uncredited)
(1935)
(1935)
Valley of Wanted Men
as Snowflake
(1934)
Twentieth Century
as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
(1934)
Imitation of Life
as Man at Funeral (uncredited)
(1934)
Lady by Choice
as Mose (uncredited)
(1934)
Palooka
as Smokey (as Snowflake)
(1934)
Riptide
as Slick
(1934)
Murder in the Private Car
as Titus
(1934)
Half a Sinner
as Snowflake
(1934)
Here Comes the Navy
as Cookie (uncredited)
(1934)
The Gay Bride
as 1st bootblack (uncredited)
(1934)
Woman Haters
as Baggage Handler (uncredited)
(1934)
Woman Haters
as Baggage Man (uncredited)
(1934)
(1934)
Something Simple
as Taxi Driver
(1934)
Sleepers East
as Porter (uncredited)
(1934)
Death on the Diamond
as Porter (uncredited)
(1934)
Here Comes the Groom
as Porter
(1934)
You Bring the Ducks
as Snowflake
(1933)
Gold Diggers of 1933
as Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
(1933)
Deluge
as Townsman
(1933)
Only Yesterday
as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
(1933)
Goodbye Again
as Train Porter (uncredited)
(1933)
Central Airport
as Hotel Porter
(1933)
Meet the Baron
as Stable Groom (uncredited)
(1933)
The Mayor of Hell
as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
(1933)
King for a Night
as Masseur
(1933)
Fast Workers
as Mike (Uncredited)
(1933)
The Mind Reader
as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
(1933)
Before Midnight
as 1st Taxi Driver
(1933)
Saturday's Millions
as Porter
(1932)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
(1932)
American Madness
as Sam (uncredited)
(1932)
The Cabin in the Cotton
as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
(1932)
The Hurricane Express
as Sam (uncredited)
(1932)
Out of Singapore
as Snowball, the Ship's Cook
(1932)
Robbers' Roost
as Snowflake
(1932)
The Arm of the Law
as Jackson
(1932)
A Strange Adventure
as Jeff
(1932)
(1932)
The County Fair
as Curfew
(1932)
Single-Handed Sanders
as Snowflake
(1931)
The Galloping Ghost
as Football Fan
(1931)
Who's Who in the Zoo
as Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
(1931)
A Private Scandal
as Snowflake
(1928)
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)