McDonald's introduced its first national advertising campaign featuring Ronald McDonald in 1965.
Ronald had first appeared in local Washington, D.C., advertising in 1963, portrayed initially by Willard Scott. McDonald's then expanded the character into a national campaign two years later, helping turn him into a recognizable symbol of the chain.
The character was designed as a friendly clown associated with McDonald's food and restaurants. His costume and appearance changed over time, and later advertising placed him in the fictional McDonaldland setting with characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace.
People sometimes date Ronald McDonald's debut to 1963 because that was his first major local appearance. The 1965 date refers specifically to the first national advertising campaign, an important distinction in the mascot's branding history.