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
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.
Born
Jan 05, 1906
North Carolina, USA
Died
Feb 13, 1962
Known For
Acting
Movies
149 acting
0 crew
Popularity
0.9
Known For
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Porter (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Way Out West
1937
as Janitor
Twentieth Century
1934
as George Washington Jones (uncredited)
A Star Is Born
1937
as Witness (uncredited)
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
1932
as Marine on Ship (uncredited)
Dodge City
1939
as Willie (uncredited)
Gold Diggers of 1933
1933
as Black Man in "Pettin' in the Park" Number (uncredited)
Remember the Night
1940
as Rufus
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Colored Bartender
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