What was McDonald's first widely recognized mascot before its McDonaldland characters?

Ronald McDonald was McDonald's first widely recognized modern mascot.

He was introduced in television advertising in 1963 as a clown who represented the playful, family-oriented side of the restaurant brand. His design used McDonald's visual cues, including the red-and-yellow color scheme and a costume built around the restaurant's food imagery.

The character was created for advertising aimed especially at children and families. Willard Scott, then a television personality in Washington, D.C., was the first person to portray Ronald McDonald in a McDonald's commercial. The character later became part of the larger McDonaldland cast.

Ronald McDonald is sometimes confused with Speedee, the earlier mascot used during McDonald's fast-service era. Speedee belonged to the company's pre-expansion branding, whereas Ronald became the enduring public face of the brand during the television advertising era. Ronald's prominence later declined in many markets as McDonald's marketing strategy changed.