Willard Scott first portrayed Ronald McDonald in a 1963 television commercial. Scott was then a Washington, D.C., television personality and had played a clown character named Bozo on local television.
McDonald’s adapted the familiar clown image into its own restaurant mascot. The character wore a striped outfit, a tray-like shoe, and a food-themed costume that helped connect the commercial to hamburgers and fries.
Ronald McDonald later became the central figure in McDonaldland advertising, appearing alongside characters such as Mayor McCheese and the Hamburglar. A common mix-up is assuming that the best-known later Ronald performer was the original; Scott’s role came first, while many actors portrayed the character afterward.