Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
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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
Credits
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
as Porter (uncredited)
A Star Is Born (1937)
as Witness (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend (1945)
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
Dodge City (1939)
as Willie (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
as Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story (1942)
as Colored Bartender
Imitation of Life (1934)
as Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Central Airport (1933)
as Hotel Porter
Riptide (1934)
as Slick
Way Out West (1937)
as Janitor
The Mayor of Hell (1933)
as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
Twentieth Century (1934)
as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
Remember the Night (1940)
as Rufus
The Hurricane Express (1932)
as Sam (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston (1946)
as Porter (uncredited)
Smart Blonde (1937)
as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
Hands Across the Table (1935)
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Christmas in July (1940)
as Sam (uncredited)
Here Comes the Navy (1934)
as Cookie (uncredited)
The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)
as Horatius (uncredited)
Deluge (1933)
as Townsman
Obliging Young Lady (1942)
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
American Madness (1932)
as Sam (uncredited)
Death on the Diamond (1934)
as Porter (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936)
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Half a Sinner (1934)
as Snowflake
Mississippi (1935)
as Leadsman (uncredited)
Woman Haters (1934)
as Baggage Handler (uncredited)
Meet the Baron (1933)
as Stable Groom (uncredited)
Daredevils of the Red Circle (1939)
as Snowflake
The Galloping Ghost (1931)
as Football Fan
Silver Queen (1942)
as Butler (uncredited)
Murder in the Private Car (1934)
as Titus
The Great Man's Lady (1941)
as Pogey
Where There's Life (1947)
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)
as Train Porter
Here Comes the Groom (1934)
as Porter
Big Brown Eyes (1936)
as Chalky (Uncredited)
She Loved a Fireman (1937)
as Joe
Go Into Your Dance (1935)
as Snowflake
Alibi Ike (1935)
as Night Porter
Only Yesterday (1933)
as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
Come and Get It (1936)
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Handy Andy (1934)
Actor
College Holiday (1936)
as Porter (uncredited)
Navy Secrets (1939)
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
The Gay Bride (1934)
as 1st bootblack (uncredited)
One Man's Law (1940)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
The Girl on the Front Page (1936)
Actor
Social Error (1935)
as Shadow
Stolen Harmony (1935)
as Henry (uncredited)
G.I. War Brides (1946)
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
Freshman Love (1936)
as Mose (uncredited)
Goodbye Again (1933)
as Train Porter (uncredited)
Fair Warning (1937)
as Porter
$10 Raise (1935)
as Bootblack (uncredited)
The Apache Kid (1941)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Red River Range (1938)
as Bellhop (uncredited)
The Lawless Nineties (1936)
as Moses
Valley of Wanted Men (1935)
as Snowflake
Who's Superstitious? (1943)
as Dice Player
The Mind Reader (1933)
as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
I Want a Divorce (1940)
as Porter
Born to Fight (1936)
as Snowflake
The Green Pastures (1936)
as Zubo (uncredited)
Bells of San Angelo (1947)
as The Cook
Wild Horse Rodeo (1937)
as Snowflake
Before Midnight (1933)
as 1st Taxi Driver
Aces Wild (1936)
as Snowflake
Romance in the Air (1936)
as Janitor
Sleepers West (1941)
as Waiter (uncredited)
Gaucho Serenade (1940)
as New York City Pier Worker
The Secret of the Whistler (1946)
Actor
Queen of Broadway (1942)
as Mose (as Snowflake)
Off to the Races (1937)
as Ebbie
Robbers' Roost (1932)
as Snowflake
Desert Justice (1936)
as Snowflake - Bank Janitor
Golden Hoofs (1941)
as Snowflake
Riders of the Black Hills (1938)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Fast Workers (1933)
as Mike (Uncredited)
Cheers of the Crowd (1935)
Actor
Palm Springs (1936)
as Porter
Two Gun Sheriff (1941)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Seventeen (1940)
as Genesis
Hawk of the Wilderness (1938)
as George
The Duke Comes Back (1937)
as Snowflake
Barbary Coast Gent (1944)
as Train Porter
Palooka (1934)
as Smokey (as Snowflake)
A Night at the Ritz (1935)
as Porter (uncredited)
Saturday's Millions (1933)
as Porter
Range Defenders (1937)
as Cook
Pardon My Berth Marks (1940)
as Train Porter
Youth on Parole (1937)
as Redcap (uncredited)
The Biscuit Eater (1940)
as Sermon
Gunsmoke Ranch (1937)
as Snowflake (unconfirmed)
Carolina Moon (1940)
as Sam (uncredited)
Florida Special (1936)
as Waiter (uncredited)
Police Court (1932)
Actor
Hidden Valley Outlaws (1944)
as Snowflake
Who's Who in the Zoo (1931)
as Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
The Lonely Trail (1936)
as Snowflake
Here Comes Mr. Zerk (1943)
as Shooting Galley Man
Under the Big Top (1938)
as Juba
Death Valley Outlaws (1941)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Groom and Bored (1942)
as Train Porter
A Missouri Outlaw (1941)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge (1937)
as Sam
King for a Night (1933)
as Masseur
King of the Turf (1939)
as Groom
The Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943)
as Joe the Valet (uncredited)
A Day at Santa Anita (1937)
as Cloudy (uncredited)
Sleepers East (1934)
as Porter (uncredited)
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath (1928)
as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)
Repent at Leisure (1941)
as Rufe
Spy Train (1943)
as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
Fool's Gold (1946)
as Speed
Honeymoon Bridge (1935)
Actor
The Arm of the Law (1932)
as Jackson
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride (1940)
as Train Porter
The Nightshirt Bandit (1938)
as Sam
Lady by Choice (1934)
as Mose (uncredited)
A Private Scandal (1931)
as Snowflake
The County Fair (1932)
as Curfew
Frontier Justice (1936)
as Snowflake
Give Out, Sisters (1942)
as Nightclub Valet
Black Gold (1936)
as Snowflake
The Tulsa Kid (1940)
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
The Peppery Salt (1936)
as Black Henchman
Single-Handed Sanders (1932)
as Snowflake
Land of Hunted Men (1943)
as Snowflake
Hair-Trigger Casey (1936)
as Snowflake
Frontier Vengeance (1940)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Texas Terrors (1940)
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Wildcat Saunders (1936)
as Snowflake
Back in the Saddle (1941)
as Train Porter (uncredited)
Something Simple (1934)
as Taxi Driver
A Strange Adventure (1932)
as Jeff
Human Targets (1932)
as 'Snowflake'
Racing Blood (1936)
as Sad Sam
Speed Limited (1935)
as Vegas Station Pullman Porter
Out of Singapore (1932)
as Snowball, the Ship's Cook
You Bring the Ducks (1934)
as Snowflake
Haunted Ranch (1943)
as Sam
Riddle Ranch (1935)
as Snowflake
Raised and Called (1935)
Actor
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!) (1935)
as Phone operator (uncredited)