Ronald McDonald debuted in a 1963 television commercial as McDonald's clown mascot.
The character first appeared in advertising made for the Washington, D.C., market. Local television personality Willard Scott portrayed Ronald in the early commercial, wearing a costume assembled from familiar McDonald's items, including a paper cup as a hat. The character was presented as a friendly companion for children.
McDonald's later developed Ronald into a more standardized national brand character. His red hair, yellow jumpsuit, striped clothing, and oversized shoes became strongly associated with the company, especially in children's advertising and restaurant play areas.
Ronald is sometimes confused with the earlier Speedee mascot, a chef-like figure used by the original McDonald's restaurant. He is also distinct from later McDonaldland characters such as the Hamburglar and Grimace. Ronald's creation marked a major shift toward a family-focused identity built around recurring fictional characters.