What was the name of McDonald's mascot introduced in 1963 to promote the restaurant chain?

McDonald’s introduced Ronald McDonald as its restaurant mascot in 1963.

The character first appeared in a television advertisement created for the Washington, D.C., market. Actor and television personality Willard Scott played the original Ronald, wearing a paper-cup nose, a tray hat, and other food-themed costume elements. The character was designed to appeal especially to children and families.

Ronald later became the central figure in McDonald’s fictional McDonaldland advertising world, alongside characters such as the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. His appearance changed substantially over time, becoming more polished and standardized for national campaigns.

A common mix-up is confusing Ronald McDonald with Speedee, an earlier McDonald’s mascot associated with the restaurant’s original service concept. Ronald is the clown mascot, while Speedee was a chef-like character used before the modern character lineup became established.