What McDonald’s character was introduced in 1963 as a clown spokesman?

Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 as McDonald’s clown spokesman.

The character first appeared in television advertising in the Washington, D.C., area. Willard Scott, then a local television personality, played the original Ronald McDonald in those early commercials. The character’s costume included familiar fast-food imagery, such as a tray-like hat and a cup-shaped shoe.

Ronald became the central figure in McDonald’s child-focused branding during the 1960s and 1970s. He was later joined by fictional characters in the McDonaldland advertising world, including Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese.

Ronald is often confused with Speedee, the company’s earlier mascot from 1948. Speedee represented fast service, while Ronald was designed as a friendly, theatrical character for television and family marketing.