Willard Scott played the first widely known television version of Ronald McDonald.
Scott portrayed Ronald in early McDonald’s commercials broadcast in the Washington, D.C., area during 1963. Before becoming nationally known as a longtime television weather presenter, he worked as an on-air personality and performer. His version of the mascot helped establish the character as a recognizable spokesman for the restaurant chain.
The earliest costume differed from the familiar later design. Ronald wore an outfit built around McDonald’s food-service imagery, including a paper cup on his head and a tray-like element around his neck. The character’s appearance was subsequently refined as national advertising expanded.
Willard Scott is sometimes confused with the people responsible for McDonald’s corporate branding. Stanley Meston designed the early restaurant architecture, and Jim Schindler created the interlocking arches logo. Scott’s role was performance: he played the mascot in early television advertising.