What was the name of McDonald's first major advertising character, introduced in 1963?

Ronald McDonald was McDonald's first major advertising character, introduced in 1963.

Ronald McDonald was created as a clown mascot for television advertising and quickly became one of the most recognizable figures associated with the company. His design used McDonald's visual identity in his costume, including the brand's red and yellow color scheme, while his clown persona made the character easy for children to recognize.

The character first appeared in a 1963 television commercial in the Washington, D.C., area. Willard Scott played the earliest Ronald McDonald used in that campaign. The character later became the central figure in McDonaldland, where he appeared alongside other fictional residents.

Ronald is sometimes confused with Speedee, the earlier mascot linked to the restaurant's service system. Speedee belonged to the company's pre-1960s branding, whereas Ronald represented the later family-oriented advertising era.