
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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