What was McDonald's first television advertising character created by Willard Scott?

Ronald McDonald was McDonald's first major television advertising character created by Willard Scott.

Scott portrayed the character in early McDonald's television commercials in the Washington, D.C., area during the early 1960s. The character's costume used familiar fast-food imagery, including a paper-cup hat and a tray-like garment, before later designers developed Ronald's more standardized appearance.

Ronald became the chain's principal mascot and was eventually placed at the center of a much larger cast of McDonaldland characters. His role gave McDonald's a recognizable human-like figure who could connect advertising with children and family visits.

The phrase “created by Willard Scott” refers to his early television portrayal and conception of the character, not to every later costume or design revision. Speedee came earlier as a symbolic mascot, while Ronald became the best-known national advertising figure.