Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Acting January 5, 1906 (56 years old) February 13, 1962 North 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.

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Biography

Movies 150

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

Gold Diggers of 1933

The Lost Weekend

A Star Is Born

Imitation of Life

Dodge City

Way Out West

The Palm Beach Story

Remember the Night

Two Sisters from Boston

Christmas in July

Come and Get It

The Great Man's Lady

The Mayor of Hell

Twentieth Century

American Madness

Hollywood Cavalcade

Here Comes the Navy

G.I. War Brides

Death on the Diamond

Murder in the Private Car

Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath

Bells of San Angelo

Hawk of the Wilderness

Goodbye Again

Where There's Life

Hands Across the Table

The Biscuit Eater

Obliging Young Lady

The Gorgeous Hussy

The Cabin in the Cotton

Gabriel Over the White House

The Gay Bride

Meet the Baron

Smart Blonde

Riptide

Central Airport

The Hurricane Express

Riders of the Black Hills

The Arm of the Law

Big Brown Eyes

Gaucho Serenade

Fair Warning

Fast Workers

Daredevils of the Red Circle

Half a Sinner

Freshman Love

Deluge

Gold Diggers of 1937

Back in the Saddle

Silver Queen

Here Comes the Groom

College Holiday

Wild Horse Rodeo

The Mind Reader

King for a Night

The Green Pastures

Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)

She Loved a Fireman

Only Yesterday

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride

I Want a Divorce

A Day at Santa Anita

Golden Hoofs

The Duke Comes Back

The Secret of the Whistler

King of the Turf

Go Into Your Dance

Mississippi

The Lawless Nineties

Valley of Wanted Men

The Girl on the Front Page

Land of Hunted Men

Sleepers West

Haunted Ranch

Off to the Races