McDonald’s introduced Ronald McDonald nationally in 1965, according to the character’s branding history.
Ronald McDonald first appeared in local television advertising in the Washington, D.C., area in 1963. The character was played by Willard Scott, who had also worked as a television and radio personality. McDonald’s then expanded Ronald’s use into a national advertising role.
The character was designed as a clown associated with McDonald’s restaurants and children’s marketing. His costume incorporated recognizable brand colors and food-themed details, helping connect the performer to the restaurant chain.
Ronald McDonald is sometimes confused with McDonaldland characters such as Grimace and the Hamburglar. Those characters belonged to the broader fictional world used in later campaigns, while Ronald served as the central human-like brand mascot.