Ronald McDonald became McDonald's official mascot after his first television appearance in 1963.
The character was created for local advertising in the Washington, D.C., area and was originally portrayed by television personality Willard Scott. His costume included a red-and-yellow outfit and a food-themed hat, establishing a visual connection with the restaurant.
McDonald's later developed Ronald into the central figure of a much larger advertising world. He appeared alongside characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese in McDonaldland campaigns aimed primarily at children.
Ronald McDonald is sometimes mistaken for the chain's first mascot, Speedee. Speedee belonged to the company's earlier branding, while Ronald's 1960s television presence made him the enduring public face of McDonald's for decades.