McDonald's introduced Ronald McDonald as a brand mascot in 1963.
The character first appeared in a television commercial created for the Washington, D.C., market. Local television personality Willard Scott played the early version of Ronald, using a costume that included a paper cup as a hat and a tray of food as a prop. The character was designed to attract children and families to McDonald's restaurants.
Ronald's appearance changed over time. The early costume was less polished than the familiar later version, and the character's look was gradually standardized for national advertising. His red hair, yellow clothing, striped sleeves, and clown makeup became strongly associated with the brand.
Ronald is often grouped with McDonaldland characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace, but those characters were introduced later. His 1963 debut established the central mascot before McDonald's expanded the fictional world around him.