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