In McDonald’s branding history, which mascot debuted in 1963 as the chain’s clown spokesman?

Ronald McDonald debuted in 1963 as McDonald’s clown spokesman.

The character was created to give McDonald’s a memorable personality for children, complementing the restaurant chain’s growing family-oriented image. Early television advertising presented Ronald as a friendly figure associated with the restaurant and its developing fictional world.

Television personality Willard Scott played an early version of Ronald in local Washington, D.C., advertisements. McDonald’s later refined the character’s appearance, costume, and role for national campaigns. Ronald became one of the best-known advertising mascots in the world.

Ronald is sometimes confused with McDonaldland characters such as the Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, and Grimace. Those figures were supporting characters in the same fictional advertising universe, while Ronald was the central clown spokesman.