Which McDonald's character debuted in a 1963 television advertisement?

Ronald McDonald debuted in a 1963 McDonald's television advertisement. The character was created as a clown mascot to make the restaurant especially appealing to children and families.

The first television Ronald was portrayed by Willard Scott, then a Washington, D.C., television personality. His costume included recognizable McDonald's imagery, including a tray-like hat and a cup-shaped nose in the earliest version.

Ronald later became the central figure in the McDonaldland advertising world, appearing with characters such as Grimace and the Hamburglar. People sometimes date Ronald's creation to later national campaigns, but the key debut occurred in a local 1963 advertisement.