Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Known for Acting · 149 credits
- Born
- 1906-01-05
- Died
- 1962-02-13
- Place of birth
- North Carolina, USA
- Also known as
- 'Snowflake' · Snowflake · Snow Flake · Fred S. Toones · Fred Toones · '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.
Known For
Racket Squad
1951
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Porter (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Central Airport
1933
as Hotel Porter
Dodge City
1939
as Willie (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
TV Shows (1)
Movies (148)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Porter (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Central Airport
1933
as Hotel Porter
Dodge City
1939
as Willie (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
1937
as Witness (uncredited)
The Gorgeous Hussy
1936
as Horatius (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933
as Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
Half a Sinner
1934
as Snowflake
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Colored Bartender
Twentieth Century
1934
as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
Way Out West
1937
as Janitor
The Great Man's Lady
1941
as Pogey
Remember the Night
1940
as Rufus
Only Yesterday
1933
as Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
The Mayor of Hell
1933
as Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
Come and Get It
1936
as Snowflake (uncredited)
The Gay Bride
1934
as 1st bootblack (uncredited)
Obliging Young Lady
1942
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)
Two Sisters from Boston
1946
as Porter (uncredited)
American Madness
1932
as Sam (uncredited)
Big Brown Eyes
1936
as Chalky (Uncredited)
The Hurricane Express
1932
as Sam (uncredited)
Red River Range
1938
as Bellhop (uncredited)
The Lawless Nineties
1936
as Moses
Christmas in July
1940
as Sam (uncredited)
Imitation of Life
1934
as Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Death on the Diamond
1934
as Porter (uncredited)
Mississippi
1935
as Leadsman (uncredited)
The Cabin in the Cotton
1932
as Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
Where There's Life
1947
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)
Wild Horse Rodeo
1937
as Snowflake
Sleepers West
1941
as Waiter (uncredited)
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
1928
as Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)
Silver Queen
1942
as Butler (uncredited)
Riptide
1934
as Slick
Murder in the Private Car
1934
as Titus
Death Valley Outlaws
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Alibi Ike
1935
as Night Porter
Gold Diggers of 1937
1936
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Fast Workers
1933
as Mike (Uncredited)
The Nightshirt Bandit
1938
as Sam
Smart Blonde
1937
as Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
I Want a Divorce
1940
as Porter
The Green Pastures
1936
as Zubo (uncredited)
Here Comes the Groom
1934
as Porter
Pardon My Berth Marks
1940
as Train Porter
Here Comes the Navy
1934
as Cookie (uncredited)
A Day at Santa Anita
1937
as Cloudy (uncredited)
The Secret of the Whistler
1946
Hollywood Cavalcade
1939
as Train Porter
Lady by Choice
1934
as Mose (uncredited)
Go Into Your Dance
1935
as Snowflake
Gaucho Serenade
1940
as New York City Pier Worker
Hands Across the Table
1935
as Snowflake (uncredited)
Valley of Wanted Men
1935
as Snowflake
Hawk of the Wilderness
1938
as George
The Lonely Trail
1936
as Snowflake
Hidden Valley Outlaws
1944
as Snowflake
The Girl on the Front Page
1936
King of the Turf
1939
as Groom
The Mind Reader
1933
as Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
Bells of San Angelo
1947
as The Cook
Riders of the Black Hills
1938
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Meet the Baron
1933
as Stable Groom (uncredited)
The Arm of the Law
1932
as Jackson
One Man's Law
1940
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Golden Hoofs
1941
as Snowflake
Deluge
1933
as Townsman
Daredevils of the Red Circle
1939
as Snowflake
Groom and Bored
1942
as Train Porter
Freshman Love
1936
as Mose (uncredited)
$10 Raise
1935
as Bootblack (uncredited)
Under the Big Top
1938
as Juba
Navy Secrets
1939
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner
King for a Night
1933
as Masseur
Woman Haters
1934
as Baggage Handler (uncredited) / Baggage Man (uncredited)
Palooka
1934
as Smokey (as Snowflake)
Stolen Harmony
1935
as Henry (uncredited)
Barbary Coast Gent
1944
as Train Porter
Fool's Gold
1946
as Speed
Gunsmoke Ranch
1937
as Snowflake (unconfirmed)
The Tulsa Kid
1940
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
Haunted Ranch
1943
as Sam
Youth on Parole
1937
as Redcap (uncredited)
Romance in the Air
1936
as Janitor
Goodbye Again
1933
as Train Porter (uncredited)
Here Comes Mr. Zerk
1943
as Shooting Galley Man
College Holiday
1936
as Porter (uncredited)
A Strange Adventure
1932
as Jeff
G.I. War Brides
1946
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)
She Loved a Fireman
1937
as Joe
A Missouri Outlaw
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
The Biscuit Eater
1940
as Sermon
Born to Fight
1936
as Snowflake
The Apache Kid
1941
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Carolina Moon
1940
as Sam (uncredited)
Back in the Saddle
1941
as Train Porter (uncredited)
The Galloping Ghost
1931
as Football Fan
Before Midnight
1933
as 1st Taxi Driver
Who's Superstitious?
1943
as Dice Player
Something Simple
1934
as Taxi Driver
Saturday's Millions
1933
as Porter
Florida Special
1936
as Waiter (uncredited)
Palm Springs
1936
as Porter
Fair Warning
1937
as Porter
Give Out, Sisters
1942
as Nightclub Valet
Honeymoon Bridge
1935
Cheers of the Crowd
1935
Human Targets
1932
as 'Snowflake'
Queen of Broadway
1942
as Mose (as Snowflake)
Racing Blood
1936
as Sad Sam
Sleepers East
1934
as Porter (uncredited)
Out of Singapore
1932
as Snowball, the Ship's Cook
Single-Handed Sanders
1932
as Snowflake
Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
1937
as Sam
Seventeen
1940
as Genesis
A Night at the Ritz
1935
as Porter (uncredited)
Repent at Leisure
1941
as Rufe
Police Court
1932
About Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
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 suc… With 149 credits spanning from 1928 to 1951, Fred 'Snowflake' Toones has appeared in 148 films and 1 TV show.
Fans searching for Fred 'Snowflake' Toones movies, Fred 'Snowflake' Toones filmography, or the latest projects starring Fred 'Snowflake' Toones can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Fred 'Snowflake' Toones Movies
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) — as Porter (uncredited)
- The Lost Weekend (1945) — as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
- Central Airport (1933) — as Hotel Porter
- Dodge City (1939) — as Willie (uncredited)
- I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) — as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
Where to Watch Fred 'Snowflake' Toones Films
Most Fred 'Snowflake' Toones movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Fred 'Snowflake' Toones, check our movies catalogue and browse page.