Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: January 5, 1906
Day of Death: February 13, 1962 (56 years old)
Place of Birth: North Carolina, USA
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.
1947
1946
1945
1944
1943
1942
1941
Actor Pogey
The Great Man's Lady
Actor Rufe
Repent at Leisure
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
A Missouri Outlaw
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
The Apache Kid
Actor Train Porter (uncredited)
Back in the Saddle
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Death Valley Outlaws
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Two Gun Sheriff
Actor Snowflake
Golden Hoofs
Actor Waiter (uncredited)
Sleepers West
1940
Actor Sam (uncredited)
Christmas in July
Actor Rufus
Remember the Night
Actor Sam (uncredited)
Carolina Moon
Actor Genesis
Seventeen
Actor Porter
I Want a Divorce
Actor Train Porter
Pardon My Berth Marks
Actor Train Porter
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
Actor New York City Pier Worker
Gaucho Serenade
Actor Sermon
The Biscuit Eater
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Texas Terrors
Actor Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
The Tulsa Kid
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
One Man's Law
Actor Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Frontier Vengeance
1939
1938
1937
Actor Witness (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
Actor Ebbie
Off to the Races
Actor Snowflake (unconfirmed)
Gunsmoke Ranch
Actor Snowflake
The Duke Comes Back
Actor Sam
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
Actor Redcap (uncredited)
Youth on Parole
Actor Snowflake
Wild Horse Rodeo
Actor Cook
Range Defenders
Actor
A Day at Santa Anita
Actor Joe
She Loved a Fireman
Actor Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
Smart Blonde
Actor Porter
Fair Warning
Actor Janitor
Way Out West
1936
Actor Snowflake - Bank Janitor
Desert Justice
Actor Black Henchman
The Peppery Salt
Actor Moses
The Lawless Nineties
Actor Horatius (uncredited)
The Gorgeous Hussy
Actor Snowflake
Frontier Justice
Actor Snowflake
The Lonely Trail
Actor Snowflake
Hair-Trigger Casey
Actor Snowflake
Black Gold
Actor Snowflake
Born to Fight
Actor Sad Sam
Racing Blood
Actor Porter (uncredited)
College Holiday
Actor Snowflake
Aces Wild
Actor Porter
Palm Springs
Actor Zubo (uncredited)
The Green Pastures
Actor Mose (uncredited)
Freshman Love
Actor
The Girl on the Front Page
Actor Snowflake - the Handyman (as Snowflake)
Wildcat Saunders
Actor Snowflake (uncredited)
Come and Get It
Actor Snowflake (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1937
Actor Chalky (Uncredited)
Big Brown Eyes
1935
Actor
Honeymoon Bridge
Actor Snowflake
Riddle Ranch
Actor Snowflake
Valley of Wanted Men
Actor
Raised and Called
Actor Bootblack (uncredited)
$10 Raise
Actor Vegas Station Pullman Porter
Speed Limited
Actor Henry (uncredited)
Stolen Harmony
Actor
Cheers of the Crowd
Actor Night Porter
Alibi Ike
Actor Shadow
Social Error
Actor Snowflake (uncredited)
Hands Across the Table
Actor Phone operator (uncredited)
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
Actor Porter (uncredited)
A Night at the Ritz
Actor Snowflake
Go Into Your Dance
Actor Leadsman (uncredited)
Mississippi
1934
Actor Baggage Handler (uncredited)
Woman Haters
Actor Titus
Murder in the Private Car
Actor Porter
Here Comes the Groom
Actor Smokey (as Snowflake)
Palooka
Actor Porter (uncredited)
Sleepers East
Actor Mose (uncredited)
Lady by Choice
Actor Porter (uncredited)
Death on the Diamond
Actor Snowflake
You Bring the Ducks
Actor 1st bootblack (uncredited)
The Gay Bride
Actor George Washington Jones (uncredited)
Twentieth Century
Actor Snowflake
Half a Sinner
Actor Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Imitation of Life
Actor Slick
Riptide
Actor Cookie (uncredited)
Here Comes the Navy
Actor
Handy Andy
Actor Taxi Driver
Something Simple
1933
Actor Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
Actor Train Porter (uncredited)
Goodbye Again
Actor Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
The Mind Reader
Actor 1st Taxi Driver
Before Midnight
Actor Masseur
King for a Night
Actor Mike (Uncredited)
Fast Workers
Actor Stable Groom (uncredited)
Meet the Baron
Actor Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
Actor Porter
Saturday's Millions
Actor Hotel Porter
Central Airport
Actor Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
Only Yesterday
Actor Townsman
Deluge
1932
Actor Snowball, the Ship's Cook
Out of Singapore
Actor Jeff
A Strange Adventure
Actor Marine on Ship (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Actor Sam (uncredited)
The Hurricane Express
Actor Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
The Cabin in the Cotton
Actor Snowflake
Robbers' Roost
Actor Curfew
The County Fair
Actor
Police Court
Actor Sam (uncredited)
American Madness
Actor Snowflake
Single-Handed Sanders
Actor Jackson
The Arm of the Law
