Person
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
North Carolina, USA
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…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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1951
Racket Squad
TV show
-
1947
Where There's Life
Movie Department Store Mover (uncredited)
-
1947
Bells of San Angelo
Movie The Cook
- 1946
-
1946
Fool's Gold
Movie Speed
-
1946
G.I. War Brides
Movie Pullman Porter (uncredited)
-
1946
Two Sisters from Boston
Movie Porter (uncredited)
-
1945
The Lost Weekend
Movie Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
-
1944
Barbary Coast Gent
Movie Train Porter
-
1944
Hidden Valley Outlaws
Movie Snowflake
-
1943
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
Movie Joe (uncredited)
-
1943
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
Movie Shooting Galley Man
-
1943
Spy Train
Movie Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
-
1943
Land of Hunted Men
Movie Snowflake
-
1943
Haunted Ranch
Movie Sam
-
1943
Who's Superstitious?
Movie Dice Player
More credits
-
1942
Queen of Broadway
Movie Mose (as Snowflake)
-
1942
Silver Queen
Movie Butler (uncredited)
-
1942
Give Out, Sisters
Movie Nightclub Valet
-
1942
The Palm Beach Story
Movie Colored Bartender
-
1942
Groom and Bored
Movie Train Porter
-
1942
Obliging Young Lady
Movie George - Train Porter (uncredited)
-
1941
A Missouri Outlaw
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1941
The Great Man's Lady
Movie Pogey
-
1941
Death Valley Outlaws
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1941
The Apache Kid
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1941
Two Gun Sheriff
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1941
Repent at Leisure
Movie Rufe
-
1941
Sleepers West
Movie Waiter (uncredited)
-
1941
Back in the Saddle
Movie Train Porter (uncredited)
-
1941
Golden Hoofs
Movie Snowflake
-
1940
Texas Terrors
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1940
Christmas in July
Movie Sam (uncredited)
-
1940
Frontier Vengeance
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1940
I Want a Divorce
Movie Porter
-
1940
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
Movie Train Porter
-
1940
The Tulsa Kid
Movie Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
-
1940
Carolina Moon
Movie Sam (uncredited)
-
1940
One Man's Law
Movie Snowflake (as Snowflake)
-
1940
The Biscuit Eater
Movie Sermon
