Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Acting
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
Acting149
movieWhere There's Life
1947
Department Store Mover (uncredited)
movieBells of San Angelo
1947
The Cook
movieFool's Gold
1946
Speed
movieG.I. War Brides
1946
Pullman Porter (uncredited)
movieTwo Sisters from Boston
1946
Porter (uncredited)
movieThe Lost Weekend
1945
Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
movieBarbary Coast Gent
1944
Train Porter
movieHidden Valley Outlaws
1944
Snowflake
movieThe Mystery of the 13th Guest
1943
Joe (uncredited)
movieHere Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
Shooting Galley Man
movieSpy Train
1943
Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
movieLand of Hunted Men
1943
Snowflake
movieWho's Superstitious?
1943
Dice Player
movieQueen of Broadway
1942
Mose (as Snowflake)
movieSilver Queen
1942
Butler (uncredited)
movieGive Out, Sisters
1942
Nightclub Valet
movieThe Palm Beach Story
1942
Colored Bartender
movieGroom and Bored
1942
Train Porter
movieObliging Young Lady
1942
George - Train Porter (uncredited)
movieA Missouri Outlaw
1941
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieDeath Valley Outlaws
1941
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieThe Apache Kid
1941
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieTwo Gun Sheriff
1941
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieBack in the Saddle
1941
Train Porter (uncredited)
movieSleepers West
1941
Waiter (uncredited)
movieGolden Hoofs
1941
Snowflake
movieTexas Terrors
1940
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieChristmas in July
1940
Sam (uncredited)
movieFrontier Vengeance
1940
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieRide, Tenderfoot, Ride
1940
Train Porter
movieThe Tulsa Kid
1940
Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
movieCarolina Moon
1940
Sam (uncredited)
movieOne Man's Law
1940
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieGaucho Serenade
1940
New York City Pier Worker
moviePardon My Berth Marks
1940
Train Porter
movieSeventeen
1940
Genesis
movieMr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
Porter (uncredited)
movieHollywood Cavalcade
1939
Train Porter
movieDodge City
1939
Willie (uncredited)
movieNavy Secrets
1939
Steve's Shoe-Shiner
movieRed River Range
1938
Bellhop (uncredited)
movieRiders of the Black Hills
1938
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
movieWild Horse Rodeo
1937
Snowflake
movieThe Duke Comes Back
1937
Snowflake
movieYouth on Parole
1937
Redcap (uncredited)
movieA Day at Santa Anita
1937
Cloudy (uncredited)
movieGunsmoke Ranch
1937
Snowflake (unconfirmed)
movieA Star Is Born
1937
Witness (uncredited)
movieWay Out West
1937
Janitor
movieFair Warning
1937
Porter
movieSmart Blonde
1937
Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
movieGold Diggers of 1937
1936
Snowflake (uncredited)
movieAces Wild
1936
Snowflake
movieCollege Holiday
1936
Porter (uncredited)
movieRacing Blood
1936
Sad Sam
movieCome and Get It
1936
Snowflake (uncredited)
movieBorn to Fight
1936
Snowflake
movieFrontier Justice
1936
Snowflake
movieThe Gorgeous Hussy
1936
Horatius (uncredited)
movieThe Green Pastures
1936
Zubo (uncredited)
moviePalm Springs
1936
Porter
movieThe Lonely Trail
1936
Snowflake
movieRomance in the Air
1936
Janitor
The Peppery Salt
1936
Black Henchman
movieFlorida Special
1936
Waiter (uncredited)
movieDesert Justice
1936
Snowflake - Bank Janitor
movieBig Brown Eyes
1936
Chalky (Uncredited)
movieWildcat Saunders
1936
Snowflake
movieHair-Trigger Casey
1936
Snowflake
movieBlack Gold
1936
Snowflake
movieFreshman Love
1936
Mose (uncredited)
movieRiddle Ranch
1935
Snowflake
movieValley of Wanted Men
1935
Snowflake
movieHands Across the Table
1935
Snowflake (uncredited)
movieAlibi Ike
1935
Night Porter
movie$10 Raise
1935
Bootblack (uncredited)
movieSocial Error
1935
Shadow
movieLove, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
1935
Phone operator (uncredited)
movieStolen Harmony
1935
Henry (uncredited)
movieGo Into Your Dance
1935
Snowflake
movieA Night at the Ritz
1935
Porter (uncredited)
movieMississippi
1935
Leadsman (uncredited)
movieSpeed Limited
1935
Vegas Station Pullman Porter
movieThe Gay Bride
1934
1st bootblack (uncredited)
movieImitation of Life
1934
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
movieLady by Choice
1934
Mose (uncredited)
movieDeath on the Diamond
1934
Porter (uncredited)
movieSomething Simple
1934
Taxi Driver
movieHere Comes the Navy
1934
Cookie (uncredited)
movieHalf a Sinner
1934
Snowflake
movieTwentieth Century
1934
George Washington Jones (uncredited)
movieWoman Haters
1934
Baggage Handler (uncredited) / Baggage Man (uncredited)
movieRiptide
1934
Slick
moviePalooka
1934
Smokey (as Snowflake)
movieSleepers East
1934
Porter (uncredited)
movieKing for a Night
1933
Masseur
movieBefore Midnight
1933
1st Taxi Driver
movieOnly Yesterday
1933
Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
movieMeet the Baron
1933
Stable Groom (uncredited)
movieGoodbye Again
1933
Train Porter (uncredited)
movieDeluge
1933
Townsman
movieThe Mayor of Hell
1933
Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
movieGold Diggers of 1933
1933
Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
movieCentral Airport
1933
Hotel Porter
movieThe Mind Reader
1933
Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
movieFast Workers
1933
Mike (Uncredited)
movieRobbers' Roost
1932
Snowflake
movieI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
Marine on Ship (uncredited)
movieThe Cabin in the Cotton
1932
Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
movieOut of Singapore
1932
Snowball, the Ship's Cook
movieAmerican Madness
1932
Sam (uncredited)
movieThe Hurricane Express
1932
Sam (uncredited)
movieThe Arm of the Law
1932
Jackson
movieThe County Fair
1932
Curfew
movieSingle-Handed Sanders
1932
Snowflake
movieHuman Targets
1932
'Snowflake'
movieA Private Scandal
1931
Snowflake
movieWho's Who in the Zoo
1931
Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
movieThe Galloping Ghost
1931
Football Fan
movieLadies' Night in a Turkish Bath
1928
Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)