Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Known for: 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.
Filmography
Series
Racket Squad
1951
Film
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Porter (uncredited)
1939
Film
The Lost Weekend
Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
1945
Film
Riptide
Slick
1934
Film
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
Marine on Ship (uncredited)
1932
Film
Gold Diggers of 1933
Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
1933
Film
A Star Is Born
Witness (uncredited)
1937
Film
The Palm Beach Story
Colored Bartender
1942
Film
Dodge City
Willie (uncredited)
1939
Film
The Gorgeous Hussy
Horatius (uncredited)
1936
Film
Valley of Wanted Men
Snowflake
1935
Film
Obliging Young Lady
George - Train Porter (uncredited)
1942
Film
Remember the Night
Rufus
1940
Film
The Gay Bride
1st bootblack (uncredited)
1934
Film
G.I. War Brides
Pullman Porter (uncredited)
1946
Film
Two Sisters from Boston
Porter (uncredited)
1946
Film
Way Out West
Janitor
1937
Film
Come and Get It
Snowflake (uncredited)
1936
Film
The Nightshirt Bandit
Sam
1938
Film
Half a Sinner
Snowflake
1934
Film
Central Airport
Hotel Porter
1933
Film
Groom and Bored
Train Porter
1942
Film
The Cabin in the Cotton
Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
1932
Film
Imitation of Life
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
1934
Film
The Mayor of Hell
Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
1933
Film
Christmas in July
Sam (uncredited)
1940
Film
American Madness
Sam (uncredited)
1932
Film
The Great Man's Lady
Pogey
1941
Film
Hands Across the Table
Snowflake (uncredited)
1935
Film
Gold Diggers of 1937
Snowflake (uncredited)
1936
Film
Where There's Life
Department Store Mover (uncredited)
1947
Film
Here Comes the Navy
Cookie (uncredited)
1934
Film
Death on the Diamond
Porter (uncredited)
1934
Film
Hollywood Cavalcade
Train Porter
1939
Film
Death Valley Outlaws
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Film
I Want a Divorce
Porter
1940
Film
Go Into Your Dance
Snowflake
1935
Film
A Night at the Ritz
Porter (uncredited)
1935
Film
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)
1928
Film
Murder in the Private Car
Titus
1934
Film
Big Brown Eyes
Chalky (Uncredited)
1936
Film
Goodbye Again
Train Porter (uncredited)
1933
Film
Here Comes the Groom
Porter
1934
Film
Twentieth Century
George Washington Jones (uncredited)
1934
Film
Mississippi
Leadsman (uncredited)
1935
Film
King of the Turf
Groom
1939
Film
Off to the Races
Ebbie
1937
Film
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
Film
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
Sam
1937
Film
King for a Night
Masseur
1933
Film
Daredevils of the Red Circle
Snowflake
1939
Film
Deluge
Townsman
1933
Film
Meet the Baron
Stable Groom (uncredited)
1933
Film
The Arm of the Law
Jackson
1932
Film
Wild Horse Rodeo
Snowflake
1937
Film
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
Joe (uncredited)
1943
Film
College Holiday
Porter (uncredited)
1936
Film
Riders of the Black Hills
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1938
Film
The Hurricane Express
Sam (uncredited)
1932
Film
Back in the Saddle
Train Porter (uncredited)
1941
Film
Only Yesterday
Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
1933
Film
Gabriel Over the White House
Sylvester (uncredited)
1933
Film
The Green Pastures
Zubo (uncredited)
1936
Film
Sleepers West
Waiter (uncredited)
1941
Film
Bells of San Angelo
The Cook
1947
Film
Land of Hunted Men
Snowflake
1943
Film
A Day at Santa Anita
Cloudy (uncredited)
1937
Film
The Mind Reader
Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
1933
Film
The Secret of the Whistler
1946
Film
She Loved a Fireman
Joe
1937
Film
Pardon My Berth Marks
Train Porter
1940
Film
Florida Special
Waiter (uncredited)
1936
Film
One Man's Law
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
Film
Who's Who in the Zoo
Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
1931
Film
Hawk of the Wilderness
George
1938
Film
Barbary Coast Gent
Train Porter
1944
Film
The Lonely Trail
Snowflake
1936
Film
The Duke Comes Back
Snowflake
1937
Film
Fast Workers
Mike (Uncredited)
1933
Film
Cheers of the Crowd
1935
Film
Romance in the Air
Janitor
1936
Film
Fair Warning
Porter
1937
Film
Give Out, Sisters
Nightclub Valet
1942
Film
Alibi Ike
Night Porter
1935
Film
Palooka
Smokey (as Snowflake)
1934
Film
Silver Queen
Butler (uncredited)
1942
Film
Gaucho Serenade
New York City Pier Worker
1940
Film
Haunted Ranch
Sam
1943
Film
The Galloping Ghost
Football Fan
1931
Film
Red River Range
Bellhop (uncredited)
1938
Film
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Snowflake
1944
Film
Smart Blonde
Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
1937
Film
Stolen Harmony
Henry (uncredited)
1935
Film
Youth on Parole
Redcap (uncredited)
1937
Film
Under the Big Top
Juba
1938
Film
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
Shooting Galley Man
1943
Film
Palm Springs
Porter
1936
Film
Freshman Love
Mose (uncredited)
1936
Film
Seventeen
Genesis
1940
Film
Golden Hoofs
Snowflake
1941
Film
Social Error
Shadow
1935
Film
The Lawless Nineties
Moses
1936
Film
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
Train Porter
1940
Film
Who's Superstitious?
Dice Player
1943
Film
Two Gun Sheriff
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Film
The Tulsa Kid
Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
1940
Film
Spy Train
Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
1943
Film
Sleepers East
Porter (uncredited)
1934
Film
The Apache Kid
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Film
Police Court
1932
Film
Frontier Vengeance
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
Film
Before Midnight
1st Taxi Driver
1933
Film
Handy Andy
1934
Film
$10 Raise
Bootblack (uncredited)
1935
Film
Texas Terrors
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940
Film
Frontier Justice
Snowflake
1936
Film
Lady by Choice
Mose (uncredited)
1934
Film
Fool's Gold
Speed
1946
Film
Aces Wild
Snowflake
1936
Film
The Biscuit Eater
Sermon
1940
Film
Black Gold
Snowflake
1936
You Bring the Ducks
Snowflake
1934
Film
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
Phone operator (uncredited)
1935
Film
Repent at Leisure
Rufe
1941
Film
Queen of Broadway
Mose (as Snowflake)
1942
Film
Robbers' Roost
Snowflake
1932
Film
Navy Secrets
Steve's Shoe-Shiner
1939
Film
Riddle Ranch
Snowflake
1935
Film
Range Defenders
Cook
1937
Film
A Missouri Outlaw
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941
Honeymoon Bridge
1935
Film
Hair-Trigger Casey
Snowflake
1936
Film
Out of Singapore
Snowball, the Ship's Cook
1932
Film
Saturday's Millions
Porter
1933
Film
Woman Haters
Baggage Handler (uncredited)
1934
Film
Woman Haters
Baggage Man (uncredited)
1934
Film
Something Simple
Taxi Driver
1934
Film
Single-Handed Sanders
Snowflake
1932
Film
Gunsmoke Ranch
Snowflake (unconfirmed)
1937
Film
Born to Fight
Snowflake
1936
Film
Racing Blood
Sad Sam
1936
Film
Carolina Moon
Sam (uncredited)
1940
Film
A Strange Adventure
Jeff
1932
Film
A Private Scandal
Snowflake
1931
Film
Desert Justice
Snowflake - Bank Janitor
1936
Film
Speed Limited
Vegas Station Pullman Porter
1935
The Peppery Salt
Black Henchman
1936
Film
The County Fair
Curfew
1932
Film
Wildcat Saunders
Snowflake
1936
Film
Human Targets
'Snowflake'
1932
Raised and Called
1935