Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in the character’s first television appearance in 1963.
Scott was a Washington, D.C., television and radio personality who had also created and performed a clown character called Bozo the Clown. McDonald’s used him to introduce its own clown mascot in a local advertisement. The character wore a paper-cup hat, a tray-like belt, and a milkshake container on one foot, emphasizing the restaurant’s food and playful identity.
Ronald McDonald later became a national advertising figure and the central character in the fictional McDonaldland setting. His appearance changed substantially over time, including more familiar clothing and a more standardized design. A common mix-up is attributing Ronald’s creation to Ray Kroc; Kroc led McDonald’s expansion, but Scott was the performer in the first television portrayal.