Which McDonald’s character was introduced in 1963 as the chain’s famous clown mascot?

Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 as McDonald’s famous clown mascot.

The character was created to appeal especially to children and quickly became one of the most recognizable figures in restaurant advertising. Early portrayals used a costume assembled from McDonald’s food packaging, including a tray-like hat and a cup-shaped nose. The character’s design later evolved into the red-haired clown familiar from national campaigns.

Television personality Willard Scott was the first person to portray Ronald McDonald in a McDonald’s commercial. Scott had already played a clown character called Bozo on television, which influenced the early presentation of Ronald.

Ronald McDonald is distinct from McDonaldland characters such as Grimace and Mayor McCheese. Those figures belonged to the wider fictional setting, while Ronald served as the central human-like mascot for the McDonald’s brand.