Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
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.
149 acting credits
Acting · 149
Racket Squad
1951
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933
The Lost Weekend
1945
A Star Is Born
1937
Dodge City
1939
Sleepers West
1941
Twentieth Century
1934
Here Comes the Groom
1934
Imitation of Life
1934
The Palm Beach Story
1942
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
Daredevils of the Red Circle
1939
American Madness
1932
G.I. War Brides
1946
Gold Diggers of 1937
1936
Way Out West
1937
Big Brown Eyes
1936
Freshman Love
1936
Christmas in July
1940
Remember the Night
1940
Hands Across the Table
1935
The Cabin in the Cotton
1932
Deluge
1933
Gaucho Serenade
1940
Mississippi
1935
Here Comes the Navy
1934
Come and Get It
1936
The Lawless Nineties
1936
Two Sisters from Boston
1946
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
Navy Secrets
1939
The Lonely Trail
1936
$10 Raise
1935
The Mayor of Hell
1933
Palooka
1934
Only Yesterday
1933
Silver Queen
1942
Central Airport
1933
College Holiday
1936
Gunsmoke Ranch
1937
Riptide
1934
Death on the Diamond
1934
Golden Hoofs
1941
Red River Range
1938
The Gorgeous Hussy
1936
Stolen Harmony
1935
The Gay Bride
1934
Smart Blonde
1937
Alibi Ike
1935
The Mind Reader
1933
The Green Pastures
1936
The Galloping Ghost
1931
Carolina Moon
1940
Fair Warning
1937
Out of Singapore
1932
Meet the Baron
1933
Seventeen
1940
Sleepers East
1934
Murder in the Private Car
1934
The Secret of the Whistler
1946
Wildcat Saunders
1936
Fast Workers
1933
The Great Man's Lady
1941
Where There's Life
1947
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
1943
Half a Sinner
1934
Aces Wild
1936
Fool's Gold
1946
The Hurricane Express
1932
The Duke Comes Back
1937
Handy Andy
1934
Riders of the Black Hills
1938
Woman Haters
1934
Social Error
1935
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
Florida Special
1936
Saturday's Millions
1933
Barbary Coast Gent
1944
Death Valley Outlaws
1941
A Strange Adventure
1932
Youth on Parole
1937
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
1928
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
Palm Springs
1936
King of the Turf
1939
A Day at Santa Anita
1937
Give Out, Sisters
1942
Robbers' Roost
1932
The County Fair
1932
Land of Hunted Men
1943
Something Simple
1934
Pardon My Berth Marks
1940
Hidden Valley Outlaws
1944
Obliging Young Lady
1942
Repent at Leisure
1941
Police Court
1932
Bells of San Angelo
1947
Born to Fight
1936
Black Gold
1936
Goodbye Again
1933
Haunted Ranch
1943
A Night at the Ritz
1935
Back in the Saddle
1941
Who's Superstitious?
1943
Before Midnight
1933
Hawk of the Wilderness
1938
Desert Justice
1936
One Man's Law
1940
Lady by Choice
1934
Go Into Your Dance
1935
The Arm of the Law
1932
King for a Night
1933
Human Targets
1932
Racing Blood
1936
The Tulsa Kid
1940
The Biscuit Eater
1940
Frontier Justice
1936
Riddle Ranch
1935
A Missouri Outlaw
1941
Queen of Broadway
1942
Cheers of the Crowd
1935
Spy Train
1943
Range Defenders
1937
She Loved a Fireman
1937
Groom and Bored
1942
Off to the Races
1937
Valley of Wanted Men
1935
Speed Limited
1935
Hair-Trigger Casey
1936
Two Gun Sheriff
1941
Honeymoon Bridge
1935
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
The Apache Kid
1941
Texas Terrors
1940
Under the Big Top
1938
I Want a Divorce
1940
Who's Who in the Zoo
1931
Romance in the Air
1936
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
1940
Raised and Called
1935
The Nightshirt Bandit
1938
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
1935
A Private Scandal
1931
Wild Horse Rodeo
1937
Frontier Vengeance
1940
You Bring the Ducks
1934
Single-Handed Sanders
1932
The Peppery Salt
1936