What advertising character became the public face of McDonald's in 1963?

Ronald McDonald became the public face of McDonald’s advertising in 1963.

The clown character was created for children’s marketing and quickly became more prominent than the earlier Speedee mascot. Television advertising helped Ronald reach audiences beyond the restaurant itself, making him a recognizable representative of the chain.

Willard Scott played the character in early appearances, although Ronald McDonald’s later image was developed by other performers and designers. His red hair, yellow clothing, and clown styling were designed to be visually memorable to children.

Ronald was later placed within the larger McDonaldland advertising world alongside characters such as Grimace and Mayor McCheese. He should not be confused with the Golden Arches, which are the company’s logo rather than a personified advertising character.