Fred "Snowflake" Toones

• Born: Jan 05, 1905
• Died: Feb 13, 1962
• Occupation: Actor
• Active: '30s-'40s
• Major Genres: Western, Comedy

Biography

During Hollywood's pre-"politically correct" era, it was not uncommon for African-American performers to be saddled with such demeaning professional monikers as "G. Howe Black," "Stepin Fetchit," and "Sleep 'n' Eat." One of the more egregious racially oriented nicknames was bestowed upon a talented black character actor named Fred Toones. From 1931 until his retirement in 1948, Toones was usually billed as "Snowflake," often playing a character of the same name. His standard characterization, that of a middle-aged "colored" man with high-pitched voice and childlike demeanor, was nearly as offensive as his character name. True to the Hollywood typecasting system of the 1930s and 1940s, "Snowflake" was generally cast as redcaps, bootblacks, and janitors. He appeared in dozens of two-reelers (including the Three Stooges' first Columbia effort, 1934's Woman Haters) and scores of B-Westerns. During the early '40s, Fred Toones was a semi-regular in the zany comedies of producer/director/writer Preston Sturges. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bells of San Angelo Buy this Movie	The Lost Weekend Buy this Movie	The Yellow Rose of Texas Buy this Movie	The Palm Beach Story Buy this Movie
The Great Man's Lady Buy this Movie	Penny Serenade Buy this Movie	Sun Valley Serenade Buy this Movie	Back in the Saddle Buy this Movie

Show More Movies Show Fewer Movies