Which McDonald's character replaced Speedee as the company's best-known mascot in the 1960s?

Ronald McDonald replaced Speedee as McDonald's best-known mascot in the 1960s.

Ronald was created as a cheerful clown character for advertising aimed especially at children and families. His bright costume, red hair, and face paint made him visually distinctive in television commercials, restaurant promotions, and printed advertising.

Speedee had represented McDonald's earlier focus on quick service, but Ronald supported a broader family-oriented brand image. Other McDonaldland characters, including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese, were later used alongside him.

The exact transition was gradual rather than a single formal replacement announcement. Speedee remained part of the company's earlier history, while Ronald became the enduring public face of McDonald's during the chain's rapid expansion.