What advertising character did McDonald’s introduce in 1963?

McDonald’s introduced Ronald McDonald as an advertising character in 1963.

The character was created for McDonald’s family-oriented marketing and was initially played in television commercials by Willard Scott, who was working as a television personality in Washington, D.C. Ronald’s costume incorporated recognizable restaurant imagery, including a red-and-yellow color scheme and food-themed details.

Ronald McDonald became the company’s most prominent mascot for decades. He appeared in advertisements, restaurant promotions, merchandise, and the fictional McDonaldland setting alongside other characters.

People sometimes confuse Ronald’s introduction with the launch of the Golden Arches logo or the earlier Speedee mascot. Those were separate milestones: Speedee represented the company before Ronald, while the arches developed as architectural and graphic branding during the 1950s and 1960s.