Ronald McDonald debuted in 1963 as McDonald's clown mascot and became one of the most recognizable figures in fast-food advertising.
The character was created for television promotion aimed especially at children. Willard Scott, then a television personality in Washington, D.C., was the first person to portray Ronald McDonald in a series of local commercials. The character's early costume included a tray-like hat and other food-themed elements before the design was standardized.
Ronald McDonald later became the central figure in McDonaldland, a fictional world populated by characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. His role was distinct from the Golden Arches, which functioned as the company's corporate symbol rather than a personified advertising character.
People sometimes date Ronald's arrival to the creation of McDonaldland in the 1970s, but the clown appeared earlier. McDonaldland expanded the character's world after Ronald had already been established in advertising.