McDonald's introduced Ronald McDonald as its clown mascot in 1963.
The character first appeared in a television commercial in the Washington, D.C., area. Willard Scott, then a local television personality, played the earliest widely recognized version of Ronald. The character was designed to attract children and make the restaurant visually memorable through a friendly, theatrical personality.
Ronald's appearance changed over time. Later versions wore the familiar yellow jumpsuit, red-and-white striped shirt, red hair, and oversized shoes, and he became the central figure in McDonald's advertising aimed at families. The McDonaldland characters were subsequently developed around him.
The date is sometimes confused with the introduction of other McDonald's figures or with the company's earlier Speedee mascot. Speedee represented fast service, while Ronald represented the family-oriented fantasy world that became a major part of McDonald's branding.