Fred 'Snowflake' Toones

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Fred Snowflake Toones (5 January 1906, North Carolina - 13 February 1962, Los Angeles California) was an African American film actor of the early sound era. There is still debate over his exact year of birth some sources state 1905.

Snowflake (his most well known nickname) which was given to him in a somewhat racist way appeared in over 200 films between 1928 and 1951 although the majority of his roles actually went uncredited. He starred alongside stars such as John Wayne in film such as The Lawless Nineties in 1936.

He also appeared in films such as Hawk of the Wilderness, Daredevils of the Red Circle, and Woman Haters.

His standard characterization, was that of a middle-aged "colored" man with high-pitched voice and childlike demeanor usually typecast in the 1930s and 1940s as redcaps, bootblacks, and janitors also racially questionable. Toones was a prime example of pre politically correct behaviour in the Hollywood film industry.

He appeared in dozens of two-reelers also including the Three Stooges and many B-Westerns. In the early 1940s Fred Toones worked extensively in the comedies of Preston Sturges.

Between 1936 and 1947 Toones was working under contract for Republic Pictures appearing in about 40 of their films but the regularity of his servant roles often meant thant even these went uncredited. In the autobiography of film director William Witney he reveals that Toones also ran the shoeshine stand at Republic studios.