Ronald McDonald was the McDonald's advertising mascot introduced in 1963. He was created as a cheerful clown character to make the restaurant more recognizable and appealing to children and families.
The character's early television appearances were performed by Willard Scott, who had previously played clown characters on television. Ronald's costume included McDonald's visual cues, including the restaurant's colors and food-inspired clothing, turning the brand into a character-led experience.
Ronald is often mixed up with other members of the McDonaldland cast. Characters such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese were separate fictional figures introduced later or used alongside him. Ronald was the principal human mascot and the central face of the children's marketing world.
Over time, McDonald's reduced the character's prominence in many markets as its advertising shifted toward food, families, community programs, and broader lifestyle messaging. His historical role, however, remains important in the development of fast-food branding.