Which character became the face of McDonald's advertising after first appearing in 1963?

Ronald McDonald became the face of McDonald's advertising after first appearing in 1963.

The character was created as a clown mascot for television advertising and soon became central to McDonald's family-oriented image. His bright costume, red hair, and exaggerated features made him easy for children to recognize in commercials, restaurant displays, and later promotional material.

Ronald is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar, Grimace, or other McDonaldland characters. Those figures supported the wider fictional world of McDonald's advertising, but Ronald was the principal human-like mascot and the character most directly identified with the brand.

His prominence also reflects a broader change in McDonald's branding during the 1960s: the company increasingly used memorable characters and visual storytelling alongside its arches and product advertising.