McDonald's used Speedee as its mascot before Ronald McDonald became the chain's main mascot in 1963.
Speedee was a chef-like character with a hamburger-shaped head. He represented the restaurant's fast-service promise and appeared in early McDonald's advertising and signage. The name echoed the chain's original emphasis on quickly prepared food.
Ronald McDonald gradually replaced Speedee as the brand's most recognizable character. Other characters, including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese, later joined McDonald's fictional advertising world. Speedee therefore belongs to the company's early branding history rather than its later character lineup.
A common mix-up is to identify Speedee as a later McDonald's character. In fact, Speedee predates the colorful McDonaldland cast and was closely associated with the restaurant's original speed-focused identity.