profile

    Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

    1906-01-05 (118 years old) in North Carolina, USA

    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.

    Movies

    poster
    Where There's Life
    56 %|Nov 21, 1947
    Comedy, Thriller
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    Bells of San Angelo
    45 %|Apr 15, 1947
    Action, Adventure, Drama, Music, Western
    poster
    The Secret of the Whistler
    58 %|Nov 7, 1946
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Fool's Gold
    0 %|Oct 9, 1946
    Western, Action, Comedy
    poster
    G.I. War Brides
    0 %|Aug 12, 1946
    Comedy
    poster
    Two Sisters from Boston
    58 %|Jun 6, 1946
    Comedy, Music
    poster
    The Lost Weekend
    76.33 %|Nov 29, 1945
    Drama
    poster
    Barbary Coast Gent
    46 %|Sep 1, 1944
    Western, Comedy
    poster
    Hidden Valley Outlaws
    0 %|Apr 1, 1944
    Western
    poster
    The Mystery of the 13th Guest
    54 %|Nov 5, 1943
    Crime, Mystery
    poster
    Here Comes Mr. Zerk
    0 %|Jul 23, 1943
    Comedy
    poster
    Spy Train
    0 %|Jul 9, 1943
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Land of Hunted Men
    0 %|Mar 26, 1943
    Western
    poster
    Haunted Ranch
    60 %|Feb 19, 1943
    Mystery, Western
    poster
    Who's Superstitious?
    50 %|Jan 2, 1943
    Documentary
    poster
    Queen of Broadway
    50 %|Nov 24, 1942
    Drama
    poster
    Silver Queen
    56 %|Nov 14, 1942
    Western
    poster
    The Palm Beach Story
    70 %|Aug 28, 1942
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    The Great Man's Lady
    63 %|Apr 15, 1942
    Western, Drama, Romance
    poster
    Groom and Bored
    0 %|Apr 9, 1942
    Comedy
    poster
    Obliging Young Lady
    50 %|Apr 1, 1942
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    A Missouri Outlaw
    0 %|Nov 25, 1941
    Western
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    Death Valley Outlaws
    0 %|Sep 26, 1941
    Western
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    The Apache Kid
    0 %|Apr 11, 1941
    Western
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    Two Gun Sheriff
    60 %|Apr 9, 1941
    Western
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    Repent at Leisure
    57 %|Apr 4, 1941
    Romance, Drama
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    Back in the Saddle
    55 %|Mar 14, 1941
    Western, Comedy
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    Sleepers West
    63 %|Mar 14, 1941
    Crime, Mystery
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    Golden Hoofs
    70 %|Feb 14, 1941
    Comedy
    poster
    Texas Terrors
    50 %|Nov 22, 1940
    Western
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    Christmas in July
    70 %|Oct 25, 1940
    Comedy, Romance
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    Frontier Vengeance
    0 %|Oct 10, 1940
    Western, Action
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    I Want a Divorce
    0 %|Sep 20, 1940
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
    40 %|Sep 5, 1940
    Romance, Western, Music
    poster
    The Tulsa Kid
    60 %|Aug 16, 1940
    Western
    poster
    Carolina Moon
    50 %|Jul 14, 1940
    Western
    poster
    One Man's Law
    0 %|Jun 29, 1940
    Western
    poster
    The Biscuit Eater
    63 %|May 24, 1940
    Family, Drama
    poster
    Gaucho Serenade
    0 %|May 9, 1940
    Comedy, Drama, Music, Western
    poster
    Pardon My Berth Marks
    65 %|Mar 22, 1940
    Comedy
    poster
    Seventeen
    0 %|Mar 1, 1940
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    Remember the Night
    74 %|Jan 19, 1940
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
    79 %|Oct 19, 1939
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Hollywood Cavalcade
    51 %|Oct 13, 1939
    Comedy, Drama, History
    poster
    Daredevils of the Red Circle
    55 %|Jun 10, 1939
    Action, Crime
    poster
    Dodge City
    69 %|Apr 8, 1939
    Western
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    King of the Turf
    70 %|Feb 17, 1939
    Drama
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    Navy Secrets
    52 %|Feb 8, 1939
    Adventure, Crime, Drama
    poster
    Red River Range
    52 %|Dec 22, 1938
    Western
    poster
    Hawk of the Wilderness
    70 %|Dec 3, 1938
    Action, Adventure
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    The Nightshirt Bandit
    0 %|Oct 27, 1938
    Comedy
    poster
    Under the Big Top
    55 %|Aug 31, 1938
    Romance, Drama
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    Riders of the Black Hills
    0 %|Jun 15, 1938
    Western
    poster
    She Loved a Fireman
    60 %|Dec 18, 1937
    Drama, Action
    poster
    Wild Horse Rodeo
    0 %|Dec 6, 1937
    Western
    poster
    The Duke Comes Back
    50 %|Nov 29, 1937
    Action, Romance
    poster
    Youth on Parole
    27 %|Oct 4, 1937
    Crime
    poster
    Range Defenders
    25 %|Jun 29, 1937
    Western, Action, Comedy
    poster
    Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge
    55 %|Jun 14, 1937
    Western
    poster
    A Day at Santa Anita
    50 %|May 22, 1937
    Drama
    poster
    Gunsmoke Ranch
    36 %|May 5, 1937
    Action, Romance, Western
    poster
    A Star Is Born
    71.6 %|Apr 27, 1937
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Way Out West
    70.34 %|Apr 16, 1937
    Action, Comedy, Western
    poster
    Fair Warning
    60 %|Mar 5, 1937
    Mystery
    poster
    Off to the Races
    0 %|Feb 5, 1937
    Comedy, Drama, Romance
    poster
    Smart Blonde
    62 %|Jan 2, 1937
    Mystery, Crime
    poster
    Gold Diggers of 1937
    58 %|Dec 28, 1936
    Comedy, Romance, Music
    poster
    Aces Wild
    0 %|Dec 21, 1936
    Western
    poster
    College Holiday
    52 %|Dec 19, 1936
    Comedy
    poster
    Racing Blood
    40 %|Nov 14, 1936
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    Come and Get It
    67 %|Nov 6, 1936
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Born to Fight
    0 %|Nov 2, 1936
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Frontier Justice
    50 %|Oct 1, 1936
    Adventure, Action
    poster
    The Girl on the Front Page
    0 %|Sep 26, 1936
    Drama, Comedy
    poster
    The Gorgeous Hussy
    52 %|Aug 28, 1936
    Drama, History
    poster
    The Green Pastures
    63 %|Aug 1, 1936
    Drama, Fantasy
    poster
    Palm Springs
    0 %|Jun 5, 1936
    Comedy, Drama, Music
    poster
    The Lonely Trail
    49 %|May 25, 1936
    Western
    actor
    The Peppery Salt
    0 %|May 15, 1936
    Comedy
    poster
    Desert Justice
    0 %|Apr 26, 1936
    Western
    poster
    Big Brown Eyes
    62.73 %|Apr 3, 1936
    Comedy, Mystery
    poster
    Wildcat Saunders
    0 %|Mar 4, 1936
    Western
    poster
    Hair-Trigger Casey
    50 %|Mar 1, 1936
    poster
    The Lawless Nineties
    53 %|Feb 15, 1936
    Western
    poster
    Black Gold
    50 %|Jan 19, 1936
    Action, Drama, Romance
    poster
    Freshman Love
    60 %|Jan 18, 1936
    Comedy
    poster
    Riddle Ranch
    0 %|Dec 3, 1935
    Western
    poster
    Valley of Wanted Men
    50 %|Oct 19, 1935
    Western
    poster
    Hands Across the Table
    68 %|Oct 18, 1935
    Romance, Comedy
    actor
    Honeymoon Bridge
    0 %|Oct 2, 1935
    Comedy
    poster
    Cheers of the Crowd
    55 %|Aug 5, 1935
    Drama, Music, Romance
    poster
    Alibi Ike
    58 %|Jun 15, 1935
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    $10 Raise
    80 %|May 4, 1935
    Comedy
    poster
    Social Error
    50 %|Apr 30, 1935
    Action, Crime
    poster
    Love, Honor and Obey (the Law!)
    0 %|Apr 29, 1935
    Comedy
    poster
    Stolen Harmony
    60 %|Apr 20, 1935
    Crime
    poster
    Go Into Your Dance
    75 %|Apr 20, 1935
    Music, Drama
    poster
    A Night at the Ritz
    30 %|Mar 23, 1935
    Comedy
    actor
    Raised and Called
    0 %|Mar 22, 1935
    Comedy
    poster
    Speed Limited
    0 %|Jan 12, 1935
    Crime
    poster
    The Gay Bride
    58 %|Dec 14, 1934
    Crime, Comedy
    actor
    You Bring the Ducks
    0 %|Nov 24, 1934
    Comedy
    poster
    Imitation of Life
    69.94 %|Nov 23, 1934
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Lady by Choice
    60 %|Oct 15, 1934
    Romance, Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Death on the Diamond
    70 %|Sep 14, 1934
    Mystery, Drama
    poster
    Something Simple
    40 %|Sep 8, 1934
    Comedy
    poster
    Here Comes the Navy
    58 %|Jul 21, 1934
    War, Drama
    poster
    Handy Andy
    10 %|Jul 19, 1934
    Comedy
    poster
    Murder in the Private Car
    54 %|Jun 29, 1934
    Mystery, Romance, Comedy
    poster
    Here Comes the Groom
    40 %|Jun 21, 1934
    Comedy
    poster
    Half a Sinner
    0 %|Jun 1, 1934
    Drama
    poster
    Twentieth Century
    68 %|May 11, 1934
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    Woman Haters
    59 %|May 5, 1934
    Comedy
    poster
    Riptide
    62 %|Mar 29, 1934
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Palooka
    29 %|Jan 26, 1934
    Music, Comedy
    poster
    Sleepers East
    0 %|Jan 1, 1934
    Comedy, Crime, Mystery
    poster
    King for a Night
    62 %|Dec 9, 1933
    Crime
    poster
    Before Midnight
    38 %|Nov 18, 1933
    Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Only Yesterday
    68 %|Nov 1, 1933
    Drama, Romance
    poster
    Meet the Baron
    43 %|Oct 20, 1933
    Comedy
    poster
    Saturday's Millions
    0 %|Sep 30, 1933
    Drama
    poster
    Goodbye Again
    50 %|Sep 9, 1933
    Comedy, Romance
    poster
    Deluge
    55 %|Aug 17, 1933
    Science Fiction, Drama, Thriller
    poster
    The Mayor of Hell
    71 %|Jun 24, 1933
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Gold Diggers of 1933
    71.63 %|May 27, 1933
    Comedy, Drama
    poster
    Central Airport
    63 %|Apr 15, 1933
    Drama
    poster
    The Mind Reader
    63 %|Apr 1, 1933
    Drama, Mystery
    poster
    Fast Workers
    53 %|Mar 10, 1933
    Drama
    poster
    Robbers' Roost
    55 %|Dec 30, 1932
    Action, Adventure, Romance, Western
    poster
    A Strange Adventure
    50 %|Nov 20, 1932
    Mystery, Romance, Thriller
    poster
    I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
    78 %|Nov 9, 1932
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    The Cabin in the Cotton
    63 %|Sep 26, 1932
    Drama
    poster
    Out of Singapore
    55 %|Sep 23, 1932
    Drama, Action, Crime
    poster
    American Madness
    71 %|Aug 15, 1932
    Drama, Crime
    poster
    The Hurricane Express
    51 %|Aug 1, 1932
    Adventure, Mystery, Crime, Action
    poster
    The Arm of the Law
    45 %|Apr 19, 1932
    Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime
    poster
    The County Fair
    0 %|Mar 31, 1932
    Crime, Drama
    poster
    Police Court
    50 %|Feb 19, 1932
    Drama
    poster
    Single-Handed Sanders
    0 %|Feb 10, 1932
    Western
    poster
    A Private Scandal
    43 %|Dec 30, 1931
    Adventure, Crime, Romance
    poster
    Who's Who in the Zoo
    0 %|Oct 11, 1931
    Comedy
    poster
    The Galloping Ghost
    20 %|Sep 1, 1931
    Action
    poster
    Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath
    0 %|Mar 31, 1928
    Comedy

    Series

    poster
    Racket Squad
    60 %|Jun 7, 1951
    Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime