Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s official mascot in 1963, replacing the earlier Speedee mascot.
The character was created as a clown associated with McDonald’s restaurants and was first portrayed for a local television advertisement in Washington, D.C. The original performer was Willard Scott, who had played a clown character called Bozo on local television.
Ronald’s design developed over time. Early versions used a food-themed costume, while later versions adopted the familiar yellow jumpsuit, red-and-white striped shirt, red hair, and oversized shoes. His name connected the character directly to the restaurant chain.
Speedee remained important in McDonald’s early identity, but Ronald became the central child-oriented symbol. The Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese were introduced later as part of the wider McDonaldland advertising world.