Acting · North Carolina, USA · Born January 5, 1906
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.
TVRacket Squad
1951
MovieWhere There's Life
1947
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
MovieBells of San Angelo
1947
as The Cook
MovieThe Secret of the Whistler
1946
MovieFool's Gold
1946
as Speed
MovieG.I. War Brides
1946
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
MovieTwo Sisters from Boston
1946
as Porter (uncredited)
MovieThe Lost Weekend
1945
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
MovieBarbary Coast Gent
1944
as Train Porter
MovieHidden Valley Outlaws
1944
as Snowflake
MovieThe Mystery of the 13th Guest
1943
as Joe (uncredited)
MovieHere Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
as Shooting Galley Man
MovieSpy Train
1943
as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
MovieLand of Hunted Men
1943
as Snowflake
MovieHaunted Ranch
1943
as Sam
MovieWho's Superstitious?
1943
as Dice Player
MovieQueen of Broadway
1942
as Mose (as Snowflake)
MovieSilver Queen
1942
as Butler (uncredited)
MovieGive Out, Sisters
1942
as Nightclub Valet
MovieThe Palm Beach Story
1942
as Colored Bartender
MovieGroom and Bored
1942
as Train Porter
MovieObliging Young Lady
1942
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
MovieA Missouri Outlaw
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieThe Great Man's Lady
1941
as Pogey
MovieDeath Valley Outlaws
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieThe Apache Kid
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieTwo Gun Sheriff
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieRepent at Leisure
1941
as Rufe
MovieBack in the Saddle
1941
as Train Porter (uncredited)
MovieSleepers West
1941
as Waiter (uncredited)
MovieGolden Hoofs
1941
as Snowflake
MovieTexas Terrors
1940
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieChristmas in July
1940
as Sam (uncredited)
MovieFrontier Vengeance
1940
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieI Want a Divorce
1940
as Porter
MovieRide, Tenderfoot, Ride
1940
as Train Porter
MovieThe Tulsa Kid
1940
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
MovieCarolina Moon
1940
as Sam (uncredited)
MovieOne Man's Law
1940
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieThe Biscuit Eater
1940
as Sermon
MovieGaucho Serenade
1940
as New York City Pier Worker
MoviePardon My Berth Marks
1940
as Train Porter
MovieSeventeen
1940
as Genesis
MovieRemember the Night
1940
as Rufus
MovieMr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Porter (uncredited)
MovieHollywood Cavalcade
1939
as Train Porter
MovieDaredevils of the Red Circle
1939
as Snowflake
MovieDodge City
1939
as Willie (uncredited)
MovieKing of the Turf
1939
as Groom
MovieNavy Secrets
1939
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
MovieRed River Range
1938
as Bellhop (uncredited)
MovieHawk of the Wilderness
1938
as George
MovieThe Nightshirt Bandit
1938
as Sam
MovieUnder the Big Top
1938
as Juba
MovieRiders of the Black Hills
1938
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
MovieShe Loved a Fireman
1937
as Joe
MovieWild Horse Rodeo
1937
as Snowflake
MovieThe Duke Comes Back
1937
as Snowflake
MovieYouth on Parole
1937
as Redcap (uncredited)
MovieRange Defenders
1937
as Cook
MovieYodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
as Sam
MovieA Day at Santa Anita
1937
as Cloudy (uncredited)
MovieGunsmoke Ranch
1937
as Snowflake (unconfirmed)
MovieA Star Is Born
1937
as Witness (uncredited)
MovieWay Out West
1937
as Janitor
MovieFair Warning
1937
as Porter
MovieOff to the Races
1937
as Ebbie
MovieSmart Blonde
1937
as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
MovieGold Diggers of 1937
1936
as Snowflake (uncredited)
MovieAces Wild
1936
as Snowflake
MovieCollege Holiday
1936
as Porter (uncredited)
MovieRacing Blood
1936
as Sad Sam
MovieCome and Get It
1936
as Snowflake (uncredited)
MovieBorn to Fight
1936
as Snowflake
MovieFrontier Justice
1936
as Snowflake
MovieThe Girl on the Front Page
1936
MovieThe Gorgeous Hussy
1936
as Horatius (uncredited)
MovieThe Green Pastures
1936
as Zubo (uncredited)
MoviePalm Springs
1936
as Porter
MovieThe Lonely Trail
1936
as Snowflake
MovieRomance in the Air
1936
as Janitor
The Peppery Salt
1936
as Black Henchman
MovieFlorida Special
1936
as Waiter (uncredited)
MovieDesert Justice
1936
as Snowflake - Bank Janitor
MovieBig Brown Eyes
1936
as Chalky (Uncredited)
MovieWildcat Saunders
1936
as Snowflake
MovieHair-Trigger Casey
1936
as Snowflake
MovieThe Lawless Nineties
1936
as Moses
MovieBlack Gold
1936
as Snowflake
MovieFreshman Love
1936
as Mose (uncredited)
MovieRiddle Ranch
1935
as Snowflake
MovieValley of Wanted Men
1935
as Snowflake
MovieHands Across the Table
1935
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Honeymoon Bridge
1935
MovieCheers of the Crowd
1935
MovieAlibi Ike
1935
as Night Porter
Movie$10 Raise
1935
as Bootblack (uncredited)
MovieSocial Error
1935
as Shadow
MovieLove, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
1935
as Phone operator (uncredited)
MovieStolen Harmony
1935
as Henry (uncredited)
MovieGo Into Your Dance
1935
as Snowflake
MovieA Night at the Ritz
1935
as Porter (uncredited)
Raised and Called
1935
MovieMississippi
1935
as Leadsman (uncredited)
MovieSpeed Limited
1935
as Vegas Station Pullman Porter
MovieThe Gay Bride
1934
as 1st bootblack (uncredited)
You Bring the Ducks
1934
as Snowflake
MovieImitation of Life
1934
as Man at Funeral (uncredited)
MovieLady by Choice
1934
as Mose (uncredited)
MovieDeath on the Diamond
1934
as Porter (uncredited)
MovieSomething Simple
1934
as Taxi Driver
MovieHere Comes the Navy
1934
as Cookie (uncredited)
MovieHandy Andy
1934
MovieMurder in the Private Car
1934
as Titus
MovieHere Comes the Groom
1934
as Porter
MovieHalf a Sinner
1934
as Snowflake
MovieTwentieth Century
1934
as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
MovieWoman Haters
1934
as Baggage Handler (uncredited)
MovieRiptide
1934
as Slick
MoviePalooka
1934
as Smokey (as Snowflake)
MovieSleepers East
1934
as Porter (uncredited)
MovieKing for a Night
1933
as Masseur
MovieBefore Midnight
1933
as 1st Taxi Driver
MovieOnly Yesterday
1933
as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
MovieMeet the Baron
1933
as Stable Groom (uncredited)
MovieSaturday's Millions
1933
as Porter
MovieGoodbye Again
1933
as Train Porter (uncredited)
MovieDeluge
1933
as Townsman
MovieThe Mayor of Hell
1933
as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
MovieGold Diggers of 1933
1933
as Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
MovieCentral Airport
1933
as Hotel Porter
MovieThe Mind Reader
1933
as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
MovieFast Workers
1933
as Mike (Uncredited)
MovieRobbers' Roost
1932
as Snowflake
MovieA Strange Adventure
1932
as Jeff
MovieI Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
MovieThe Cabin in the Cotton
1932
as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
MovieOut of Singapore
1932
as Snowball, the Ship's Cook
MovieAmerican Madness
1932
as Sam (uncredited)
MovieThe Hurricane Express
1932
as Sam (uncredited)
MovieThe Arm of the Law
1932
as Jackson
MovieThe County Fair
1932
as Curfew
MoviePolice Court
1932
MovieSingle-Handed Sanders
1932
as Snowflake
MovieHuman Targets
1932
as 'Snowflake'
MovieA Private Scandal
1931
as Snowflake
MovieWho's Who in the Zoo
1931
as Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
MovieThe Galloping Ghost
1931
as Football Fan
MovieLadies' Night in a Turkish Bath
1928
as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)
