Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 as McDonald's long-running clown mascot.
The character first appeared in a television advertisement created for the Washington, D.C., market. Willard Scott portrayed the early version of Ronald, whose costume used recognizable McDonald's products as visual elements. The character was designed to make the restaurant especially appealing to children and families.
Ronald later became the central figure of McDonald's fictional advertising world, appearing alongside characters including Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie. His design and portrayal changed over time, but the red-haired clown identity remained closely linked with the brand for decades.
Ronald McDonald should not be confused with Speedee, the earlier chef mascot. Speedee represented fast service, while Ronald represented the family-oriented entertainment and character marketing that became prominent in the 1960s.