What was the name of McDonald’s clown mascot when he first appeared in 1963?

McDonald’s clown mascot was named Ronald McDonald when he first appeared in 1963.

The character was created for television advertising and quickly became the public face of McDonald’s family-oriented branding. His costume combined a clown appearance with visual details associated with the restaurant, including food-themed elements.

The first Ronald McDonald was portrayed by Willard Scott, who had already played a clown character on television. Later performers developed the familiar version used in national advertising and live appearances.

Ronald is sometimes confused with McDonaldland characters such as Mayor McCheese or the Hamburglar. Those figures belonged to the same fictional advertising world, but Ronald was its central clown mascot and the character most directly identified with the company.