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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.

Racket Squad

Where There's Life
as Department Store Mover (uncredited)

Bells of San Angelo
as The Cook

The Secret of the Whistler

Fool's Gold
as Speed

G.I. War Brides
as Pullman Porter (uncredited)

Two Sisters from Boston
as Porter (uncredited)

The Lost Weekend
as Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)

Barbary Coast Gent
as Train Porter

Hidden Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake

The Mystery of the 13th Guest
as Joe the Valet (uncredited)

Here Comes Mr. Zerk
as Shooting Galley Man

Spy Train
as Pullman Car Porter (as Snowflake)

Land of Hunted Men
as Snowflake

Haunted Ranch
as Sam

Who's Superstitious?
as Dice Player

Queen of Broadway
as Mose (as Snowflake)

Silver Queen
as Butler (uncredited)

Give Out, Sisters
as Nightclub Valet

The Palm Beach Story
as Colored Bartender

Groom and Bored
as Train Porter

Obliging Young Lady
as George - Train Porter (uncredited)

A Missouri Outlaw
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

The Great Man's Lady
as Pogey

Death Valley Outlaws
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

The Apache Kid
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Two Gun Sheriff
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Repent at Leisure
as Rufe

Back in the Saddle
as Train Porter (uncredited)

Sleepers West
as Waiter (uncredited)

Golden Hoofs
as Snowflake

Texas Terrors
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

Christmas in July
as Sam (uncredited)

Frontier Vengeance
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

I Want a Divorce
as Porter

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride
as Train Porter

The Tulsa Kid
as Snowflake - the Cook (as Snowflake)

Carolina Moon
as Sam (uncredited)

One Man's Law
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

The Biscuit Eater
as Sermon

Gaucho Serenade
as New York City Pier Worker

Pardon My Berth Marks
as Train Porter

Seventeen
as Genesis

Remember the Night
as Rufus

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
as Porter (uncredited)

Hollywood Cavalcade
as Train Porter

Daredevils of the Red Circle
as Snowflake

Dodge City
as Willie (uncredited)

King of the Turf
as Groom

Navy Secrets
as Steve's Shoe-Shiner

Red River Range
as Bellhop (uncredited)

Hawk of the Wilderness
as George

The Nightshirt Bandit
as Sam

Under the Big Top
as Juba

Riders of the Black Hills
as Snowflake (as Snowflake)

She Loved a Fireman
as Joe

Wild Horse Rodeo
as Snowflake

The Duke Comes Back
as Snowflake

Youth on Parole
as Redcap (uncredited)

Range Defenders
as Cook