Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Acting
Born 1906-01-05 - Died 1962-02-13North Carolina, USA

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.

Movies (148)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
7.8

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939Movie7.8
The Lost Weekend
7.6

The Lost Weekend

1945Movie7.6
Way Out West
7.1

Way Out West

1937Movie7.1
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
7.8

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

1932Movie7.8
Riptide
6.7

Riptide

1934Movie6.7
Twentieth Century
6.8

Twentieth Century

1934Movie6.8
A Star Is Born
7.2

A Star Is Born

1937Movie7.2
Gold Diggers of 1933
7.2

Gold Diggers of 1933

1933Movie7.2
Hands Across the Table
7.0

Hands Across the Table

1935Movie7.0
Dodge City
6.9

Dodge City

1939Movie6.9
Imitation of Life
7.0

Imitation of Life

1934Movie7.0
Christmas in July
7.0

Christmas in July

1940Movie7.0
Remember the Night
7.3

Remember the Night

1940Movie7.3
Barbary Coast Gent
5.5

Barbary Coast Gent

1944Movie5.5
Only Yesterday
7.1

Only Yesterday

1933Movie7.1
Navy Secrets
6.2

Navy Secrets

1939Movie6.2
The Palm Beach Story
7.0

The Palm Beach Story

1942Movie7.0
Big Brown Eyes
6.3

Big Brown Eyes

1936Movie6.3
American Madness
6.9

American Madness

1932Movie6.9
Where There's Life
6.4

Where There's Life

1947Movie6.4
The Secret of the Whistler
6.1

The Secret of the Whistler

1946Movie6.1
I Want a Divorce
10.0

I Want a Divorce

1940Movie10.0
Mississippi
6.8

Mississippi

1935Movie6.8
Go Into Your Dance
7.2

Go Into Your Dance

1935Movie7.2
The Gorgeous Hussy
5.5

The Gorgeous Hussy

1936Movie5.5
College Holiday
5.7

College Holiday

1936Movie5.7
The Mayor of Hell
7.0

The Mayor of Hell

1933Movie7.0
Hollywood Cavalcade
6.2

Hollywood Cavalcade

1939Movie6.2
Come and Get It
6.8

Come and Get It

1936Movie6.8
The Gay Bride
6.0

The Gay Bride

1934Movie6.0
G.I. War Brides
9.0

G.I. War Brides

1946Movie9.0
Central Airport
6.0

Central Airport

1933Movie6.0
The Green Pastures
6.3

The Green Pastures

1936Movie6.3
Range Defenders
4.8

Range Defenders

1937Movie4.8
Obliging Young Lady
6.0

Obliging Young Lady

1942Movie6.0
Fast Workers
5.0

Fast Workers

1933Movie5.0
Haunted Ranch
8.0

Haunted Ranch

1943Movie8.0
Wild Horse Rodeo
8.0

Wild Horse Rodeo

1937Movie8.0
Gold Diggers of 1937
6.1

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936Movie6.1
The Galloping Ghost
4.7

The Galloping Ghost

1931Movie4.7
King of the Turf
7.0

King of the Turf

1939Movie7.0
Youth on Parole
3.9

Youth on Parole

1937Movie3.9
Saturday's Millions
7.0

Saturday's Millions

1933Movie7.0
Sleepers East
7.0

Sleepers East

1934Movie7.0
Two Sisters from Boston
6.3

Two Sisters from Boston

1946Movie6.3
Fair Warning
7.3

Fair Warning

1937Movie7.3
The Cabin in the Cotton
6.3

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932Movie6.3
The Great Man's Lady
6.3

The Great Man's Lady

1941Movie6.3
Red River Range
5.2

Red River Range

1938Movie5.2
The Lawless Nineties
5.5

The Lawless Nineties

1936Movie5.5
Freshman Love
7.0

Freshman Love

1936Movie7.0
The Lonely Trail
4.8

The Lonely Trail

1936Movie4.8
Gunsmoke Ranch
4.3

Gunsmoke Ranch

1937Movie4.3
Half a Sinner
8.0

Half a Sinner

1934Movie8.0
Here Comes the Navy
6.0

Here Comes the Navy

1934Movie6.0
Riders of the Black Hills
7.0

Riders of the Black Hills

1938Movie7.0
Sleepers West
6.4

Sleepers West

1941Movie6.4
Palooka
3.6

Palooka

1934Movie3.6
Murder in the Private Car
5.6

Murder in the Private Car

1934Movie5.6
Off to the Races
10.0

Off to the Races

1937Movie10.0
Gaucho Serenade
6.5

Gaucho Serenade

1940Movie6.5
The Apache Kid
9.0

The Apache Kid

1941Movie9.0
Alibi Ike
6.2

Alibi Ike

1935Movie6.2
Smart Blonde
6.4

Smart Blonde

1937Movie6.4
Stolen Harmony
8.0

Stolen Harmony

1935Movie8.0
Goodbye Again
4.9

Goodbye Again

1933Movie4.9
Palm Springs
8.0

Palm Springs

1936Movie8.0
Daredevils of the Red Circle
4.8

Daredevils of the Red Circle

1939Movie4.8
Here Comes the Groom
6.5

Here Comes the Groom

1934Movie6.5
A Day at Santa Anita
6.0

A Day at Santa Anita

1937Movie6.0
Golden Hoofs
8.0

Golden Hoofs

1941Movie8.0
Deluge
6.0

Deluge

1933Movie6.0
The Nightshirt Bandit
10.0

The Nightshirt Bandit

1938Movie10.0
Woman Haters
6.3

Woman Haters

1934Movie6.3
Silver Queen
6.0

Silver Queen

1942Movie6.0
Florida Special
7.0

Florida Special

1936Movie7.0
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
10.0

Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath

1928Movie10.0
Meet the Baron
5.3

Meet the Baron

1933Movie5.3
Repent at Leisure
6.3

Repent at Leisure

1941Movie6.3
Romance in the Air
10.0

Romance in the Air

1936Movie10.0
King for a Night
7.2

King for a Night

1933Movie7.2
Handy Andy
5.5

Handy Andy

1934Movie5.5
Valley of Wanted Men
6.3

Valley of Wanted Men

1935Movie6.3
Bells of San Angelo
4.7

Bells of San Angelo

1947Movie4.7
The Hurricane Express
5.4

The Hurricane Express

1932Movie5.4
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
5.7

The Mystery of the 13th Guest

1943Movie5.7
Racing Blood
7.0

Racing Blood

1936Movie7.0
She Loved a Fireman
7.5

She Loved a Fireman

1937Movie7.5
Death on the Diamond
7.3

Death on the Diamond

1934Movie7.3
Before Midnight
4.6

Before Midnight

1933Movie4.6
One Man's Law
10.0

One Man's Law

1940Movie10.0
The Biscuit Eater
6.5

The Biscuit Eater

1940Movie6.5
Single-Handed Sanders
8.0

Single-Handed Sanders

1932Movie8.0
A Night at the Ritz
6.5

A Night at the Ritz

1935Movie6.5
Carolina Moon
7.5

Carolina Moon

1940Movie7.5
The Arm of the Law
5.3

The Arm of the Law

1932Movie5.3
Groom and Bored
9.0

Groom and Bored

1942Movie9.0
Riddle Ranch
5.5

Riddle Ranch

1935Movie5.5
Frontier Vengeance
7.0

Frontier Vengeance

1940Movie7.0
Out of Singapore
5.0

Out of Singapore

1932Movie5.0
The Peppery Salt
8.0

The Peppery Salt

1936Movie8.0
Speed Limited
8.0

Speed Limited

1935Movie8.0
Death Valley Outlaws
9.0

Death Valley Outlaws

1941Movie9.0
The Girl on the Front Page
7.0

The Girl on the Front Page

1936Movie7.0
Back in the Saddle
6.0

Back in the Saddle

1941Movie6.0
Hidden Valley Outlaws
8.0

Hidden Valley Outlaws

1944Movie8.0
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
6.7

Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge

1937Movie6.7
Texas Terrors
5.5

Texas Terrors

1940Movie5.5
Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
5.5

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride

1940Movie5.5
The Mind Reader
6.2

The Mind Reader

1933Movie6.2
Give Out, Sisters
6.0

Give Out, Sisters

1942Movie6.0
Cheers of the Crowd
5.8

Cheers of the Crowd

1935Movie5.8
Pardon My Berth Marks
6.5

Pardon My Berth Marks

1940Movie6.5
Hawk of the Wilderness
7.0

Hawk of the Wilderness

1938Movie7.0
Under the Big Top
6.7

Under the Big Top

1938Movie6.7
Black Gold
5.3

Black Gold

1936Movie5.3
Queen of Broadway
6.3

Queen of Broadway

1942Movie6.3
Lady by Choice
6.9

Lady by Choice

1934Movie6.9
Human Targets
6.0

Human Targets

1932Movie6.0
Aces Wild
8.0

Aces Wild

1936Movie8.0
Born to Fight
10.0

Born to Fight

1936Movie10.0
$10 Raise
9.0

$10 Raise

1935Movie9.0
Robbers' Roost
6.0

Robbers' Roost

1932Movie6.0
The Tulsa Kid
6.5

The Tulsa Kid

1940Movie6.5
Spy Train
9.0

Spy Train

1943Movie9.0
Frontier Justice
7.5

Frontier Justice

1936Movie7.5
Seventeen
9.0

Seventeen

1940Movie9.0
Raised and Called

Raised and Called

1935Movie
Two Gun Sheriff
7.5

Two Gun Sheriff

1941Movie7.5
A Strange Adventure
6.5

A Strange Adventure

1932Movie6.5
A Private Scandal
5.8

A Private Scandal

1931Movie5.8
Who's Superstitious?
6.7

Who's Superstitious?

1943Movie6.7
Wildcat Saunders
10.0

Wildcat Saunders

1936Movie10.0
The Duke Comes Back
6.0

The Duke Comes Back

1937Movie6.0
Police Court
5.8

Police Court

1932Movie5.8
Fool's Gold
6.5

Fool's Gold

1946Movie6.5
Honeymoon Bridge
9.0

Honeymoon Bridge

1935Movie9.0
Something Simple
6.0

Something Simple

1934Movie6.0
Hair-Trigger Casey
7.0

Hair-Trigger Casey

1936Movie7.0
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
10.0

Here Comes Mr. Zerk

1943Movie10.0
A Missouri Outlaw
7.0

A Missouri Outlaw

1941Movie7.0
Desert Justice
10.0

Desert Justice

1936Movie10.0
Land of Hunted Men
9.0

Land of Hunted Men

1943Movie9.0
The County Fair
7.0

The County Fair

1932Movie7.0
Social Error
7.5

Social Error

1935Movie7.5
Who's Who in the Zoo

Who's Who in the Zoo

1931Movie
Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)

Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)

1935Movie
You Bring the Ducks
10.0

You Bring the Ducks

1934Movie10.0

TV Shows (1)

Racket Squad
6.5

Racket Squad

1951Series6.5