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.
Witness (uncredited)
The Cook
Porter (uncredited)
Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
Marine on Ship (uncredited)
Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Janitor
Willie (uncredited)
Man at Funeral (uncredited)
Rufus
Redcap Getting Tip (uncredited)
Pogey
Colored Bartender
Snowflake (uncredited)
George Washington Jones (uncredited)
Ezzy Daniels (uncredited)
Chalky (Uncredited)
Moses
Sam (uncredited)
Leadsman (uncredited)
Butler (uncredited)
Joe
Mike (Uncredited)
Wall Street Bootblack (Uncredited)
Department Store Mover (uncredited)
Titus
Snowflake
Henry (uncredited)
1st Taxi Driver
Snowflake
Porter
Sam (uncredited)
Snowflake
Train Porter
Porter (uncredited)
Joe the Valet (uncredited)
Snowflake
Porter (uncredited)
Snowflake (uncredited)
Hotel Porter
George - Train Porter (uncredited)
Horatius (uncredited)
Mose (uncredited)
Train Porter
Slick
Sam (uncredited)
Townsman
New York City Pier Worker
Snowflake (uncredited)
Stable Groom (uncredited)
1st bootblack (uncredited)
Porter
Waiter (uncredited)
Train Porter
Snowflake
Steve's Shoe-Shiner
Snowflake (unconfirmed)
Train Porter
Bellhop (uncredited)
Porter
Sam
Redcap (uncredited)
Pullman Porter (uncredited)
Smokey (as Snowflake)
Snowball, the Ship's Cook
Juba
Barbershop Attendant (uncredited)
Porter
Porter (uncredited)
Porter (uncredited)
Mose (uncredited)
Black Man - Shill at Hair Tonic (uncredited)
Snowflake
Curfew
Snowflake
Porter (uncredited)
Groom
Train Porter
Cloudy (uncredited)
Snowflake
Genesis
Snowflake
Masseur
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Snowflake
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Porter
Waiter (uncredited)
Black Henchman
Snowflake
Snowflake
Night Porter
Snowflake
Football Fan
Train Porter (uncredited)
Dice Player
Cookie (uncredited)
Baggage Handler (uncredited)
Baggage Man (uncredited)
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Cook
George
Mose (as Snowflake)
Snowflake
Shooting Galley Man
Sam (uncredited)
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Train Porter (uncredited)
Sam
Zubo (uncredited)
Phone operator (uncredited)
Shadow
Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)
Mr. Hemingway (uncredited)
Rufe
Snowflake
Janitor
Snowflake
Sermon
Jeff
Snowflake - the Handyman (as Snowflake)
Taxi Driver
Ebbie
Snowflake
Speed
Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)
Jackson
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Snowflake
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Sam
Park Worker with Harmonica (uncredited)
Bootblack (uncredited)
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Snowflake
Snowflake (as Snowflake)
Snowflake - Bank Janitor
Vegas Station Pullman Porter
Sad Sam
Snowflake