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