What was the name of McDonald’s first international mascot character, introduced in 1963?

McDonald’s first major international mascot character, introduced in 1963, was Ronald McDonald.

Ronald was created as a clown character for television advertising aimed especially at children. The early portrayal was performed by Willard Scott, who had worked as a television personality and weather presenter. Ronald quickly became a highly recognizable part of McDonald’s public identity.

He later became the central figure in McDonaldland, a fictional setting populated by characters such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird. Those characters expanded McDonald’s branding beyond the restaurant and into a continuing advertising world.

Ronald is sometimes confused with Speedee, the earlier mascot used in the late 1940s and 1950s. Speedee represented quick service, while Ronald represented the family-oriented entertainment style that shaped later McDonald’s marketing.