Which advertising character became McDonald’s mascot after his 1963 television debut?

Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s mascot after his 1963 television debut.

The character was created for McDonald’s advertising as a clown associated with the restaurant and its food. Willard Scott played the first Ronald McDonald in early television commercials, using a costume that included a cup-like hat and other restaurant-themed elements.

Ronald was developed after Speedee, McDonald’s original mascot, and helped the company build a more child-focused identity during the 1960s. His bright colors, exaggerated makeup, and friendly personality made him especially suitable for television and family advertising.

Ronald is sometimes confused with the later characters of McDonaldland, such as the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese. Those figures were part of the same broader advertising universe, but Ronald was the central mascot and the character most directly identified with the McDonald’s brand.