Which 1960s advertising character became McDonald’s most famous mascot?

Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s most famous advertising mascot in the 1960s.

The character first appeared in a 1963 television advertisement created for the Washington, D.C., market. Television personality Willard Scott portrayed the early version of Ronald, whose costume included a tray-like hat, a cup-shaped shoe, and other visual references to McDonald’s products.

Ronald was later developed into the central figure of McDonald’s children’s marketing and the wider McDonaldland advertising world. His bright clothing, red hair, and clown appearance made him easy to recognize in television commercials, restaurant promotions, and community events.

Ronald is sometimes confused with Speedee, the company’s earlier mascot from the late 1940s, or with characters introduced later in McDonaldland. Speedee represented fast service, while Ronald became the enduring public face of the brand’s family-oriented advertising.