Willard Scott portrayed Ronald McDonald in McDonald's first television commercial featuring the clown character.
Scott appeared as Ronald in a 1963 McDonald's advertisement. At that time, the character’s look was less standardized than the familiar version that later became the company’s principal mascot. The early commercial helped establish the idea of a clown representing McDonald's to children and families.
Scott was already known to television audiences, which helped make his portrayal memorable. McDonald's later refined Ronald’s costume and appearance as the character became a central part of the company’s advertising and live promotions.
This fact is often confused with the question of who created Ronald McDonald or who played the character in later commercials. Ronald’s visual development involved several contributors, and many performers portrayed him over the decades; Scott is specifically associated with the first television commercial appearance.