McDonald's introduced Ronald McDonald in 1963 as its first major human advertising mascot.
Ronald was created to give McDonald's a recognizable personality who could speak directly to children in television commercials and public appearances. Willard Scott portrayed the earliest version of the character, whose costume incorporated a hamburger motif. This early design was later replaced by the more familiar clown appearance associated with McDonald's restaurants.
The distinction between “first major human mascot” and the company's earlier mascots matters. Speedee appeared before Ronald, but Speedee was a chef-like cartoon character associated with the original service system. Ronald represented a newer, more elaborate style of character branding built around television, fantasy, and live appearances.
Ronald later became the central figure of McDonaldland, where he interacted with fictional characters and helped unify many children's campaigns. His introduction marked a major step in McDonald's transition from product-centered advertising to a character-led brand world.