What mascot did McDonald’s introduce in 1963 to represent its brand?

McDonald’s introduced Ronald McDonald as its brand mascot in 1963.

The character was created for television advertising and was initially portrayed by Willard Scott, a Washington, D.C., television personality who also played Bozo the Clown. Ronald’s costume combined clown imagery with McDonald’s visual identity, including a red-and-yellow color scheme and food-themed details.

Ronald became the central figure in a wider cast of McDonaldland characters, including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. Those characters helped McDonald’s present its restaurants as an imaginative world aimed especially at children and families.

A common mix-up is confusing Ronald McDonald’s introduction with the debut of McDonaldland itself. The mascot appeared in advertising before the larger fictional setting and supporting cast were fully established. Over time, McDonald’s reduced Ronald’s prominence in many markets, but he remains one of the best-known mascots in fast-food branding.