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