Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Biography
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (49)
Where There's Life
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
1947
Bells of San Angelo
as The Cook
1947
The Secret of the Whistler
1946
Fool's Gold
as Speed
1946
G.I. War Brides
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
1946
Two Sisters from Boston
as Porter (uncredited)
1946
The Lost Weekend
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
1945
Barbary Coast Gent
as Train Porter
1944
Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake
1944
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
as Joe the Valet (uncredited)
1943
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
as Shooting Galley Man
1943
Spy Train
as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
1943
Land of Hunted Men
as Snowflake
1943
Haunted Ranch
as Sam
1943
Who's Superstitious?
as Dice Player
1943
Queen of Broadway
as Mose (as Snowflake)
1942
Silver Queen
as Butler (uncredited)
1942
The Palm Beach Story
as Colored Bartender
1942
Groom and Bored
as Train Porter
1942
Obliging Young Lady
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
1942
A Missouri Outlaw
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
The Great Man's Lady
as Pogey
1941
Death Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
The Apache Kid
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Two Gun Sheriff
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Repent at Leisure
as Rufe
1941
Back in the Saddle
as Train Porter (uncredited)
1941
Sleepers West
as Waiter (uncredited)
1941
Golden Hoofs
as Snowflake
1941
Texas Terrors
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
Christmas in July
as Sam (uncredited)
1940
Frontier Vengeance
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
I Want a Divorce
as Porter
1940
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
as Train Porter
1940
The Tulsa Kid
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
1940
Carolina Moon
as Sam (uncredited)
1940
One Man's Law
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
The Biscuit Eater
as Sermon
1940
Gaucho Serenade
as New York City Pier Worker
1940
Pardon My Berth Marks
as Train Porter
1940
Seventeen
as Genesis
1940
Remember the Night
as Rufus
1940
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Porter (uncredited)
1939
Hollywood Cavalcade
as Train Porter
1939
Daredevils of the Red Circle
as Snowflake
1939
Dodge City
as Willie (uncredited)
1939
King of the Turf
as Groom
1939
Navy Secrets
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
1939
Red River Range
as Bellhop (uncredited)
1938
