McDonald's introduced its first national television commercial featuring Ronald McDonald in 1965.
Ronald McDonald had appeared locally before becoming a nationwide advertising figure. The character first appeared in a Washington, D.C., television commercial in 1963, portrayed by Willard Scott. McDonald's then expanded the character's role, making him the central figure in a national television campaign in 1965.
This timing helped McDonald's build a consistent family-oriented identity across the United States. Ronald's bright costume, red hair, and clown imagery made him easy for children to recognize, while television gave the company a way to connect its restaurants with a recurring fictional world.
The dates are sometimes confused because 1963 marks Ronald's first television appearance, while 1965 marks the first national television commercial featuring him. Those are related but distinct milestones. Ronald later became one of the best-known advertising mascots in American popular culture.