Which 1960s advertising character became McDonald's official clown mascot?

Ronald McDonald became McDonald's official clown mascot in the 1960s.

The character was created for advertising aimed at children and was presented as a friendly clown associated with McDonald's restaurants. Early portrayals used recognizable restaurant branding, including a paper-cup hat and a costume built from McDonald's visual themes. Ronald soon became the public face of the chain's family-oriented marketing.

Ronald is sometimes confused with the broader group of McDonaldland characters, such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. He was the central mascot, while those figures filled supporting roles in the fictional advertising world. His prominence also made McDonald's branding especially recognizable to children, although the company later reduced the role of its fantasy characters in mainstream advertising.