Ronald McDonald served as the face of McDonald’s advertising after his 1963 debut.
McDonald’s introduced Ronald as a clown character intended to appeal especially to children. The first television portrayal was created for the Washington, D.C., market, where local advertising helped establish the character before he became a national figure. His costume included recognizable fast-food imagery, including a paper-cup nose in his earliest presentation.
Ronald’s role expanded as McDonald’s developed a larger fictional world around its characters. He appeared in restaurant promotions, television commercials, merchandise, and live events. Over time, the character became more closely associated with the company than with any single menu item.
Ronald is sometimes confused with earlier McDonald’s figures such as Speedee, who represented the company’s quick-service system. Speedee belonged to the chain’s earlier branding, while Ronald became the best-known public mascot from the 1960s onward.