Cast

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Acting

Cast

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Known for

Acting

Born

1906-01-05

From

North Carolina, USA

Died

1962-02-13

Also known as 'Snowflake', Snowflake, Snow Flake

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

Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

Biography

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

The Lost Weekend

Central Airport

Dodge City

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang

A Star Is Born

The Gorgeous Hussy

Gold Diggers of 1933

Half a Sinner

The Palm Beach Story

Twentieth Century

Way Out West

The Great Man's Lady

Remember the Night

Only Yesterday

The Mayor of Hell

Come and Get It

The Gay Bride

Obliging Young Lady

Two Sisters from Boston

American Madness

Big Brown Eyes

The Hurricane Express

Red River Range

The Lawless Nineties

Christmas in July

Imitation of Life

Death on the Diamond

Mississippi

The Cabin in the Cotton

Where There's Life

Wild Horse Rodeo

Sleepers West

Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath

Silver Queen

Riptide

Murder in the Private Car

Death Valley Outlaws

Alibi Ike

Gold Diggers of 1937

Fast Workers

The Nightshirt Bandit

Smart Blonde

I Want a Divorce

The Green Pastures

Here Comes the Groom

Pardon My Berth Marks

Here Comes the Navy

A Day at Santa Anita

The Secret of the Whistler

Hollywood Cavalcade

Lady by Choice

Go Into Your Dance

Gaucho Serenade

Hands Across the Table

Valley of Wanted Men

Hawk of the Wilderness

The Lonely Trail

Hidden Valley Outlaws

The Girl on the Front Page

King of the Turf

The Mind Reader

Bells of San Angelo

Riders of the Black Hills

Meet the Baron

The Arm of the Law

One Man's Law

Golden Hoofs

Deluge

Daredevils of the Red Circle

Groom and Bored

Freshman Love

$10 Raise

Under the Big Top

Navy Secrets

King for a Night

Woman Haters