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