Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in the character’s first television commercial.
Scott portrayed Ronald in a 1963 advertisement for a Washington, D.C., McDonald’s franchise. The commercial introduced a clown character designed to make the restaurant especially appealing to children. Scott was already known as a television personality, and his performance helped establish Ronald as a recognizable advertising figure.
Ronald McDonald’s appearance changed over time. The original version used a tray, a cup, and a food container as costume elements, while later versions received the familiar red-and-yellow outfit and more standardized character design. McDonald’s eventually used Ronald in television, print, and promotional campaigns around the world.
People sometimes assume Ronald was created by a single corporate design team from the beginning. His early television identity instead developed through local advertising before becoming a major national McDonald’s mascot.