Which character became McDonald’s main mascot after Speedee was phased out in the 1960s?

Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s main mascot after Speedee was phased out in the 1960s.

Ronald was created as a clown character for McDonald’s advertising and quickly became the public face of the brand. The earliest television version was associated with performer Willard Scott, who played the character in Washington, D.C.-area commercials before the character developed into the familiar national mascot.

His appearance connected McDonald’s with children and family occasions. The red-and-yellow costume also echoed the restaurant’s brand colors, helping the character work as a mobile, human-shaped advertisement for the company.

Ronald should not be confused with the Hamburglar, Grimace, or Mayor McCheese. Those figures were supporting characters introduced within the broader McDonaldland advertising universe. Ronald remained its central figure for decades, even as McDonald’s later advertising became less dependent on mascots.