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Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Known For Acting
Birthday Jan 05, 1906
Died Feb 13, 1962 (56)
Birthplace North Carolina, USA
Popularity 2 (history)
Updated Aug 05, 2024 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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 s ... tand 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.

Known For

Filmography

Bells of San Angelo

Bells of San Angelo

1947

as The Cook

Where There's Life

Where There's Life

1947

as Department Store Mover (uncredited)

Fool's Gold

Fool's Gold

1946

as Speed

G.I. War Brides

G.I. War Brides

1946

as Pullman Porter (uncredited)

Two Sisters from Boston

Two Sisters from Boston

1946

as Porter (uncredited)

The Lost Weekend

The Lost Weekend

1945

as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)

Hidden Valley Outlaws

Hidden Valley Outlaws

1944

as Snowflake

Barbary Coast Gent

Barbary Coast Gent

1944

as Train Porter

Who's Superstitious?

Who's Superstitious?

1943

as Dice Player

Haunted Ranch

Haunted Ranch

1943

as Sam

Land of Hunted Men

Land of Hunted Men

1943

as Snowflake

Spy Train

Spy Train

1943

as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)

Here Comes Mr. Zerk

Here Comes Mr. Zerk

1943

as Shooting Galley Man

The Mystery of the 13th Guest

The Mystery of the 13th Guest

1943

as Joe the Valet (uncredited)

Groom and Bored

Groom and Bored

1942

as Train Porter

Queen of Broadway

Queen of Broadway

1942

as Mose (as Snowflake)

The Great Man's Lady

The Great Man's Lady

1942

as Pogey

The Palm Beach Story

The Palm Beach Story

1942

as Colored Bartender

Silver Queen

Silver Queen

1942

as Butler (uncredited)

Obliging Young Lady

Obliging Young Lady

1942

as George - Train Porter (uncredited)

Repent at Leisure

Repent at Leisure

1941

as Rufe

The Apache Kid

The Apache Kid

1941

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Death Valley Outlaws

Death Valley Outlaws

1941

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

A Missouri Outlaw

A Missouri Outlaw

1941

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Two Gun Sheriff

Two Gun Sheriff

1941

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Back in the Saddle

Back in the Saddle

1941

as Train Porter (uncredited)

Sleepers West

Sleepers West

1941

as Waiter (uncredited)

Golden Hoofs

Golden Hoofs

1941

as Snowflake

The Biscuit Eater

The Biscuit Eater

1940

as Sermon

Seventeen

Seventeen

1940

as Genesis

The Tulsa Kid

The Tulsa Kid

1940

as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)

Texas Terrors

Texas Terrors

1940

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

One Man's Law

One Man's Law

1940

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Remember the Night

Remember the Night

1940

as Rufus

Frontier Vengeance

Frontier Vengeance

1940

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Carolina Moon

Carolina Moon

1940

as Sam (uncredited)

Pardon My Berth Marks

Pardon My Berth Marks

1940

as Train Porter

I Want a Divorce

I Want a Divorce

1940

as Porter

Gaucho Serenade

Gaucho Serenade

1940

as New York City Pier Worker

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride

1940

as Train Porter

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

1940

as Sam (uncredited)

Daredevils of the Red Circle

Daredevils of the Red Circle

1939

as Snowflake

Navy Secrets

Navy Secrets

1939

as Steve's Shoe-Shiner

King of the Turf

King of the Turf

1939

as Groom

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939

as Porter (uncredited)

Hollywood Cavalcade

Hollywood Cavalcade

1939

as Train Porter

Dodge City

Dodge City

1939

as Willie (uncredited)

The Nightshirt Bandit

The Nightshirt Bandit

1938

as Sam

Under the Big Top

Under the Big Top

1938

as Juba

Hawk of the Wilderness

Hawk of the Wilderness

1938

as George

Riders of the Black Hills

Riders of the Black Hills

1938

as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Red River Range

Red River Range

1938

as Bellhop (uncredited)

The Duke Comes Back

The Duke Comes Back

1937

as Snowflake

Way Out West

Way Out West

1937

as Janitor

Off to the Races

Off to the Races

1937

as Ebbie

Range Defenders

Range Defenders

1937

as Cook

Wild Horse Rodeo

Wild Horse Rodeo

1937

as Snowflake

Youth on Parole

Youth on Parole

1937

as Redcap (uncredited)

Fair Warning

Fair Warning

1937

as Porter

She Loved a Fireman

She Loved a Fireman

1937

as Joe

Gunsmoke Ranch

Gunsmoke Ranch

1937

as Snowflake (unconfirmed)

A Star Is Born

A Star Is Born

1937

as Witness (uncredited)

Smart Blonde

Smart Blonde

1937

as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)

Hair-Trigger Casey

Hair-Trigger Casey

1936

as Snowflake

Wildcat Saunders

Wildcat Saunders

1936

as Snowflake - the Handyman (as Snowflake)

The Lonely Trail

The Lonely Trail

1936

as Snowflake

The Lawless Nineties

The Lawless Nineties

1936

as Moses

Aces Wild

Aces Wild

1936

as Snowflake

Desert Justice

Desert Justice

1936

as Snowflake - Bank Janitor

Born to Fight

Born to Fight

1936

as Snowflake

Racing Blood

Racing Blood

1936

as Sad Sam

Black Gold

Black Gold

1936

as Snowflake

Frontier Justice

Frontier Justice

1936

as Snowflake

The Peppery Salt

The Peppery Salt

1936

as Black Henchman

Come and Get It

Come and Get It

1936

as Snowflake (uncredited)

The Green Pastures

The Green Pastures

1936

as Zubo (uncredited)

Gold Diggers of 1937

Gold Diggers of 1937

1936

as Snowflake (uncredited)

College Holiday

College Holiday

1936

as Porter (uncredited)

The Gorgeous Hussy

The Gorgeous Hussy

1936

as Horatius (uncredited)

Big Brown Eyes

Big Brown Eyes

1936

as Chalky (Uncredited)

Freshman Love

Freshman Love

1936

as Mose (uncredited)

Palm Springs

Palm Springs

1936

as Porter

Social Error

Social Error

1935

as Shadow

Speed Limited

Speed Limited

1935

as Vegas Station Pullman Porter

Valley of Wanted Men

Valley of Wanted Men

1935

as Snowflake

Riddle Ranch

Riddle Ranch

1935

as Snowflake

Go Into Your Dance

Go Into Your Dance

1935

as Snowflake

Alibi Ike

Alibi Ike

1935

as Night Porter

$10 Raise

$10 Raise

1935

as Bootblack (uncredited)

Hands Across the Table

Hands Across the Table

1935

as Snowflake (uncredited)

A Night at the Ritz

A Night at the Ritz

1935

as Porter (uncredited)

Stolen Harmony

Stolen Harmony

1935

as Henry (uncredited)

You Bring the Ducks

You Bring the Ducks

1934

as Snowflake

Woman Haters

Woman Haters

1934

as Baggage Handler (uncredited)

Something Simple

Something Simple

1934

as Taxi Driver

Lady by Choice

Lady by Choice

1934

as Mose (uncredited)

Here Comes the Groom

Here Comes the Groom

1934

as Porter

Palooka

Palooka

1934

as Smokey (as Snowflake)

Sleepers East

Sleepers East

1934

as Porter (uncredited)

Riptide

Riptide

1934

as Slick

Here Comes the Navy

Here Comes the Navy

1934

as Cookie (uncredited)

Death on the Diamond

Death on the Diamond

1934

as Porter (uncredited)

Half a Sinner

Half a Sinner

1934

as Snowflake

Twentieth Century

Twentieth Century

1934

as George Washington Jones (uncredited)

The Gay Bride

The Gay Bride

1934

as 1st bootblack (uncredited)

Imitation of Life

Imitation of Life

1934

as Man at Funeral (uncredited)

Deluge

Deluge

1933

as Townsman

Goodbye Again

Goodbye Again

1933

as Train Porter (uncredited)

The Mind Reader

The Mind Reader

1933

as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)

Before Midnight

Before Midnight

1933

as 1st Taxi Driver

Central Airport

Central Airport

1933

as Hotel Porter

Gold Diggers of 1933

Gold Diggers of 1933

1933

as Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)

Fast Workers

Fast Workers

1933

as Mike (Uncredited)

King for a Night

King for a Night

1933

as Masseur

The Mayor of Hell

The Mayor of Hell

1933

as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)

Saturday's Millions

Saturday's Millions

1933

as Porter

Meet the Baron

Meet the Baron

1933

as Stable Groom (uncredited)

Only Yesterday

Only Yesterday

1933

as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)

The County Fair

The County Fair

1932

as Curfew

Single-Handed Sanders

Single-Handed Sanders

1932

as Snowflake

Out of Singapore

Out of Singapore

1932

as Snowball, the Ship's Cook

A Strange Adventure

A Strange Adventure

1932

as Jeff

The Hurricane Express

The Hurricane Express

1932

as Sam (uncredited)

Robbers' Roost

Robbers' Roost

1932

as Snowflake

The Cabin in the Cotton

The Cabin in the Cotton

1932

as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)

American Madness

American Madness

1932

as Sam (uncredited)

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

1932

as Marine on Ship (uncredited)

Who's Who in the Zoo

Who's Who in the Zoo

1931

as Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)

A Private Scandal

A Private Scandal

1931

as Snowflake

The Galloping Ghost

The Galloping Ghost

1931

as Football Fan

Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath

Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath

1928

as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 5 8 2
2024 7 6 10 3
2024 8 5 11 2
2024 9 3 7 1
2024 10 3 5 1
2024 11 2 4 1
2024 12 3 6 2
2025 1 2 3 1
2025 2 2 3 1
2025 3 2 3 1
2025 5 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 2 7 0

Trending Rank


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