Personal Info
Birth date
1906-01-05 (119 Years)
Day of death
1962-02-13
Gender
Male
Known for
Acting
Place of birth
North Carolina, USA
Also known as
'Snowflake'
Snowflake
Snow Flake
Fred S. Toones
Fred Toones
'Snowflake' Toones
Snowflake Toones
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
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.
Filmography
Racket Squad
6
Overview:
Racket Squad is an American TV crime drama series starring Reed Hadley as Captain John Braddock, a fictional detective working for the San Francisco, California Police Department. The show aired in syndication for a season before being picked up by CBS for three seasons. The series was filmed at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, California, and was sponsored by cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris, hence there was a pack of the sponsor's brand on Braddock's desk at the beginning and end of the episode, as well as occasional scenes of him or other characters "lighting up".Bells of San Angelo
4.1
Overview:
Gridley is mining silver from an old Mexican mine and bringing it into the USA thru a passage into his worthless mine. Border guard Rogers suspects Gridley and finally finds the secret entrance to the Mexican mine. He sends Lee Madison for help only to have her captured by Gridley. Trigger brings help that takes care of Gridley's men and now Roy has to rescue Madison.Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
7.848
Overview:
After the death of a United States Senator, idealistic Jefferson Smith is appointed as his replacement in Washington. Soon, the naive and earnest new senator has to battle political corruption.A Star Is Born
7.145
Overview:
Esther Blodgett is just another starry-eyed farm kid trying to break into the movies. Waitressing at a Hollywood party, she catches the eye of her idol Norman Maine, is sent for a screen test, and before long attains stardom as newly minted Vicki Lester. She and Norman marry, though his career soon dwindles to nothing due to his chronic alcoholism.Dodge City
6.9
Overview:
In this epic Western, Wade Hatton, a wagon master turned sheriff, tames a cow town at the end of a railroad line.The Lost Weekend
7.6
Overview:
Don Birnam, a long-time alcoholic, has been sober for ten days and appears to be over the worst... but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother and girlfriend, he begins a four-day bender that just might be his last - one way or another.I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
7.76
Overview:
A World War I veteran’s dreams of becoming a master architect evaporate in the cold light of economic realities. Things get even worse when he’s falsely convicted of a crime and sent to work on a chain gang.Seventeen
NYR
Overview:
A high-school student in a small town becomes smitten with the sophisticated new girl who's just arrived from Chicago. Based on Booth Tarkington's story.Deluge
5.6
Overview:
A massive earthquake strikes the United States, which destroys the West Coast and unleashes a massive flood that threatens to destroy the East Coast as well.Born to Fight
NYR
Overview:
An honest boxer refuses to throw a fight for a gambler. They get into a fight and the boxer knocks the gambler out. Thinking he's killed him and believing that the police are after him, the horrified boxer runs off and takes to the road, promising never to box again. However, one day he comes upon a small but scrappy young kid who has the potential to be a champion. The former boxer takes the kid under his wing and trains him, but the kid's ensuing success starts to go to his head. Pretty soon he finds himself mixed up with gamblers, too.Gold Diggers of 1933
7.2
Overview:
When all Broadway shows are shut down during the Depression, a trio of desperate showgirls scheme to bilk a repugnant high society man of his money to keep their show going.The Palm Beach Story
7.003
Overview:
A New York inventor, Tom Jeffers, needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife, Gerry, decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire, J. D. Hackensacker III.The Hurricane Express
5.2
Overview:
The Wrecker wrecks trains on the L & R Railroad. One of his victims is Larry Baker's father. Baker wants to find the evildoer, among a host of suspects, but it will be difficult since the Wrecker can disguise himself to look like almost anyoneImitation of Life
7
Overview:
A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fair-skinned daughter. The two women start a successful business but face familial, identity, and racial issues along the way.Christmas in July
6.9
Overview:
An office clerk loves entering contests in the hopes of someday winning a fortune and marrying the girl he loves. His latest attempt is the Maxford House Coffee Slogan Contest. As a joke, some of his co-workers put together a fake telegram which says that he won the $25,000 grand prize.Remember the Night
7.3
Overview:
Unexpected love blossoms when an assistant district attorney agrees to take a recidivist shoplifter home so she doesn't have to spend Christmas alone in jail.Way Out West
7.1
Overview:
Stan and Ollie try to deliver the deed to a valuable gold mine to the daughter of a dead prospector. Unfortunately, the daughter's evil guardian is determined to have the gold mine for himself and his saloon-singer wife.Hollywood Cavalcade
5.1
Overview:
Starting in 1913 movie director Connors discovers singer Molly Adair. As she becomes a star she marries an actor, so Connors fires them. She asks for him as director of her next film. Many silent stars shown making the transition to sound.Palooka
3
Overview:
Joe Palooka is a naive young man whose father Pete was a champion boxer, but his lifestyle caused Joe's mother Mayme to leave him and to take young Joe to the country to raise him.Come and Get It
6.8
Overview:
An ambitious lumberjack abandons his saloon girl lover so that he can marry into wealth, but years later becomes infatuated with the woman's daughter.Where There's Life
5.833
Overview:
In a far off country, their king is critically wounded after an assassination attempt and the only heir is a timid New York radio personality, Michael Valentine (Bob Hope). After reluctantly traveling to his father's homeland, Michael is not happy that he's become the target of the same terrorist organization that attacked the king.Fast Workers
5.3
Overview:
Gunner and Bucker are friends who work as riveters. Whenever Bucker gets the urge to marry, which is often, Gunner will hit on his girl to see if she is true or not. So far, Gunner hasn't failed. But one night, while Gunner is in jail, Bucker meets Mary, a tough dame with a line. He falls for her, and she falls for his money. But Mary is already a gal pal of Gunner, and no two know about the third one. The trouble starts when the triangle is revealed too late.American Madness
7
Overview:
Socially-conscious banker Thomas Dickson faces a crisis when his protégé is wrongly accused of robbing the bank, gossip of the robbery starts a bank run, and evidence suggests Dickson's wife had an affair... all in the same day.The Great Man's Lady
6.3
Overview:
In Hoyt City, a statue of founder Ethan Hoyt is dedicated, and 100 year old Hannah Sempler Hoyt (who lives in the last residence among skyscrapers) is at last persuaded to tell her story to a 'girl biographer'. Flashback: in 1848, teenage Hannah meets and flirts with pioneer Ethan; on a sudden impulse, they elope. We follow their struggle to found a city in the wilderness, hampered by the Gold Rush, star-crossed love, peril, and heartbreak. The star "ages" 80 years.Central Airport
6.136
Overview:
Aviator Jim Blaine and his brother Neil are rivals not only as daredevil flyers, but also for the love of parachutist Jill Collins.Riders of the Black Hills
NYR
Overview:
Riders of the Black Hills is a 1938 American Western directed by George Sherman. The intrepid cowboys known as the Three Mesquiteers; Stony (Robert Livingston), Tucson (Ray Corrigan) and Lullaby (Max Terhune) are on the case when rancher Peg Garth's (Maude Eburne) prize racehorse is abducted by bookie Rod Stevens (Tom London) and a secret cohort to prevent it from winning an important race.Twentieth Century
6.8
Overview:
A temperamental Broadway producer trains an untutored actress, but when she becomes a star, she proves a match for him.Big Brown Eyes
6.3
Overview:
Sassy manicurist Eve Fallon is recruited as an even more brassy reporter and she helps police detective boyfriend Danny Barr break a jewel theft ring and solve the murder of a baby.Riptide
6.2
Overview:
Mary is an impetuous romantic who marries British aristocrat Lord Philip Rexford on a whim. Their marriage is successful, though, and they grow closer over the years. Then, a trip to the Italian Riviera unexpectedly reunites Mary with her former beau, Tommie. After some vicious gossip makes Rexford distrust her, he begins work on a divorce. Mary must now choose between the man she has married and the man she once loved.The Mayor of Hell
7.2
Overview:
Members of a teenage gang are sent to the State Reformatory, presided over by the callous Thompson. Soon Patsy Gargan, a former gangster appointed Deputy Commissioner, arrives and takes over the administration to run the place on radical principles. Thompson needs a quick way to discredit him.Acting
1951Racket Squad (1 Episode) as Unknown
1947Where There's Life as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
1947Bells of San Angelo as The Cook
1946The Secret of the Whistler as Unknown
1946Fool's Gold as Speed
1946G.I. War Brides as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
1946Two Sisters from Boston as Porter (uncredited)
1945The Lost Weekend as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
1944Barbary Coast Gent as Train Porter
1944Hidden Valley Outlaws as Snowflake
1943The Mystery of the 13th Guest as Joe the Valet (uncredited)
1943Here Comes Mr. Zerk as Shooting Galley Man
1943Spy Train as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
1943Land of Hunted Men as Snowflake
1943Haunted Ranch as Sam
1943Who's Superstitious? as Dice Player
1942Queen of Broadway as Mose (as Snowflake)
1942Silver Queen as Butler (uncredited)
1942The Palm Beach Story as Colored Bartender
1942Groom and Bored as Train Porter
1942Obliging Young Lady as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
1941A Missouri Outlaw as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941The Great Man's Lady as Pogey
1941Death Valley Outlaws as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941The Apache Kid as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941Two Gun Sheriff as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1941Repent at Leisure as Rufe
1941Back in the Saddle as Train Porter (uncredited)
1941Sleepers West as Waiter (uncredited)
1941Golden Hoofs as Snowflake
1940Texas Terrors as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940Christmas in July as Sam (uncredited)
1940Frontier Vengeance as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940I Want a Divorce as Porter
1940Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride as Train Porter
1940The Tulsa Kid as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
1940Carolina Moon as Sam (uncredited)
1940One Man's Law as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1940The Biscuit Eater as Sermon
1940Gaucho Serenade as New York City Pier Worker
1940Pardon My Berth Marks as Train Porter
1940Seventeen as Genesis
1940Remember the Night as Rufus
1939Mr. Smith Goes to Washington as Porter (uncredited)
1939Hollywood Cavalcade as Train Porter
1939Daredevils of the Red Circle as Snowflake
1939Dodge City as Willie (uncredited)
1939King of the Turf as Groom
1939Navy Secrets as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
1938Red River Range as Bellhop (uncredited)
1938Hawk of the Wilderness as George
1938The Nightshirt Bandit as Sam
1938Under the Big Top as Juba
1938Riders of the Black Hills as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
1937She Loved a Fireman as Joe
1937Wild Horse Rodeo as Snowflake
1937The Duke Comes Back as Snowflake
1937Youth on Parole as Redcap (uncredited)
1937Range Defenders as Cook
1937Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge as Sam
1937A Day at Santa Anita as Cloudy (uncredited)
1937Gunsmoke Ranch as Snowflake (unconfirmed)
1937A Star Is Born as Witness (uncredited)
1937Way Out West as Janitor
1937Fair Warning as Porter
1937Off to the Races as Ebbie
1937Smart Blonde as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
1936Gold Diggers of 1937 as Snowflake (uncredited)
1936Aces Wild as Snowflake
1936College Holiday as Porter (uncredited)
1936Racing Blood as Sad Sam
1936Come and Get It as Snowflake (uncredited)
1936Born to Fight as Snowflake
1936Frontier Justice as Snowflake
1936The Girl on the Front Page as Unknown
1936The Gorgeous Hussy as Horatius (uncredited)
1936The Green Pastures as Zubo (uncredited)
1936Palm Springs as Porter
1936The Lonely Trail as Snowflake
1936Romance in the Air as Janitor
1936The Peppery Salt as Black Henchman
1936Florida Special as Waiter (uncredited)
1936Desert Justice as Snowflake - Bank Janitor
1936Big Brown Eyes as Chalky (Uncredited)
1936Wildcat Saunders as Snowflake - the Handyman (as Snowflake)
1936Hair-Trigger Casey as Snowflake
1936The Lawless Nineties as Moses
1936Black Gold as Snowflake
1936Freshman Love as Mose (uncredited)
1935Riddle Ranch as Snowflake
1935Valley of Wanted Men as Snowflake
1935Hands Across the Table as Snowflake (uncredited)
1935Honeymoon Bridge as Unknown
1935Cheers of the Crowd as Unknown
1935Alibi Ike as Night Porter
1935$10 Raise as Bootblack (uncredited)
1935Social Error as Shadow
1935Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!) as Phone operator (uncredited)
1935Stolen Harmony as Henry (uncredited)
1935Go Into Your Dance as Snowflake
1935A Night at the Ritz as Porter (uncredited)
1935Raised and Called as Unknown
1935Mississippi as Leadsman (uncredited)
1935Speed Limited as Vegas Station Pullman Porter
1934The Gay Bride as 1st bootblack (uncredited)
1934You Bring the Ducks as Snowflake
1934Imitation of Life as Man at Funeral (uncredited)
1934Lady by Choice as Mose (uncredited)
1934Death on the Diamond as Porter (uncredited)
1934Something Simple as Taxi Driver
1934Here Comes the Navy as Cookie (uncredited)
1934Handy Andy as Unknown
1934Murder in the Private Car as Titus
1934Here Comes the Groom as Porter
1934Half a Sinner as Snowflake
1934Twentieth Century as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
1934Woman Haters as Baggage Handler (uncredited), Baggage Man (uncredited)
1934Riptide as Slick
1934Palooka as Smokey (as Snowflake)
1934Sleepers East as Porter (uncredited)
1933King for a Night as Masseur
1933Before Midnight as 1st Taxi Driver
1933Only Yesterday as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
1933Meet the Baron as Stable Groom (uncredited)
1933Saturday's Millions as Porter
1933Goodbye Again as Train Porter (uncredited)
1933Deluge as Townsman
1933The Mayor of Hell as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
1933Gold Diggers of 1933 as Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
1933Central Airport as Hotel Porter
1933The Mind Reader as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
1933Fast Workers as Mike (Uncredited)
1932Robbers' Roost as Snowflake
1932A Strange Adventure as Jeff
1932I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
1932The Cabin in the Cotton as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
1932Out of Singapore as Snowball, the Ship's Cook
1932American Madness as Sam (uncredited)
1932The Hurricane Express as Sam (uncredited)
1932The Arm of the Law as Jackson
1932The County Fair as Curfew
1932Police Court as Unknown
1932Single-Handed Sanders as Snowflake
1931A Private Scandal as Snowflake
1931Who's Who in the Zoo as Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
1931The Galloping Ghost as Football Fan
1928Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)