Willard Scott first portrayed Ronald McDonald in a McDonald’s television commercial.
Scott played the character in early Washington, D.C.-area advertising during the 1960s. His version helped establish the basic idea of Ronald as a cheerful clown representing McDonald’s, although the costume and appearance were not identical to the familiar modern design.
Ronald McDonald’s visual identity changed as the character became a national mascot. Later portrayals used a more standardized costume, including the red-and-yellow clothing and distinctive clown makeup associated with McDonaldland advertising. Because several performers played Ronald over the years, the character is often incorrectly credited to the person who became most visible in later campaigns.
The character’s name was inspired by McDonald’s itself and was intended to be easy for children to remember. Ronald eventually became the central figure in a larger fictional world of McDonaldland characters and restaurant promotions.