McDonald’s clown mascot, first portrayed in television advertising in 1963, is Ronald McDonald.
The character was created to give McDonald’s a child-focused identity and became the central figure in the company’s family marketing. Early portrayals used a distinctive costume made from restaurant items, including a tray-like hat and a cup-shaped nose.
Television personality Willard Scott played the first Ronald McDonald in an early Washington, D.C.-area campaign. The character was later redesigned and placed within the larger fictional world of McDonaldland alongside characters such as Grimace and the Hamburglar.
Ronald McDonald is sometimes confused with Speedee, McDonald’s earlier mascot. Speedee represented fast service, while Ronald represented the brand’s later emphasis on children, imagination, and family entertainment.