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.
Acting (143 movies)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
A Star Is Born
1937
Off to the Races
1937
The Palm Beach Story
1942
Christmas in July
1940
Remember the Night
1940
Desert Justice
1936
Riddle Ranch
1935
Gunsmoke Ranch
1937
G.I. War Brides
1946
Bells of San Angelo
1947
Carolina Moon
1940
The Mayor of Hell
1933
The Great Man's Lady
1941
The Lawless Nineties
1936
The Gorgeous Hussy
1936
Woman Haters
1934
Frontier Justice
1936
The Galloping Ghost
1931
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
1943
Red River Range
1938
The Lonely Trail
1936
Valley of Wanted Men
1935
Hair-Trigger Casey
1936
The Duke Comes Back
1937
Seventeen
1940
Black Gold
1936
Born to Fight
1936
Racing Blood
1936
King of the Turf
1939
A Private Scandal
1931
I Want a Divorce
1940
Hawk of the Wilderness
1938
Daredevils of the Red Circle
1939
$10 Raise
1935
Goodbye Again
1933
Out of Singapore
1932
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
College Holiday
1936
Youth on Parole
1937
Wild Horse Rodeo
1937
Who's Who in the Zoo
1931
Under the Big Top
1938
Range Defenders
1937
The Mind Reader
1933
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
1928
Murder in the Private Car
1934
Where There's Life
1947
Here Comes the Groom
1934
Aces Wild
1936
Fool's Gold
1946
A Day at Santa Anita
1937
Before Midnight
1933
Palooka
1934
Speed Limited
1935
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
Palm Springs
1936
Stolen Harmony
1935
King for a Night
1933
Repent at Leisure
1941
Dodge City
1939
Cheers of the Crowd
1935
She Loved a Fireman
1937
Pardon My Berth Marks
1940
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
1940
Alibi Ike
1935
The Lost Weekend
1945
A Missouri Outlaw
1941
The Apache Kid
1941
Back in the Saddle
1941
Social Error
1935
Fast Workers
1933
A Strange Adventure
1932
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
Smart Blonde
1937
The Green Pastures
1936
Groom and Bored
1942
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
Hands Across the Table
1935
Gaucho Serenade
1940
Freshman Love
1936
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
1935
A Night at the Ritz
1935
The Biscuit Eater
1940
Who's Superstitious?
1943
Meet the Baron
1933
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
Texas Terrors
1940
The Tulsa Kid
1940
Death Valley Outlaws
1941
One Man's Law
1940
Land of Hunted Men
1943
Frontier Vengeance
1940
Queen of Broadway
1942
Two Gun Sheriff
1941
Hidden Valley Outlaws
1944
Haunted Ranch
1943
Fair Warning
1937
Silver Queen
1942
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933
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