Willard Scott first played Ronald McDonald in McDonald’s 1963 television advertisements.
Scott was already known in the Washington, D.C., area for playing Bozo the Clown on local television. McDonald’s used that familiar clown persona as the basis for its new advertising character, Ronald McDonald. The campaign connected a recognizable television performer with the restaurant’s child-focused marketing.
Scott’s Ronald was not identical to the character’s later national version. The early costume included conspicuous food-related elements, including a tray-like hat and a cup-shaped shoe. As McDonald’s advertising expanded, the character’s design became more standardized.
A common mix-up is attributing Ronald’s creation or first performance to Ray Kroc, McDonald’s expansion leader. Kroc helped build the company’s franchise system, but Scott was the performer in the first Ronald commercials. Later actors portrayed Ronald in national campaigns and public appearances.