Which McDonald's character was known as the company's chief advertising mascot from 1963?

Ronald McDonald was McDonald's chief advertising mascot from 1963.

McDonald's introduced Ronald McDonald in 1963 as a clown character designed to appeal to children and families. The character was initially portrayed in television advertising by Willard Scott, who had already played a clown called Bozo on television.

Ronald's appearance and costume changed over time, but his red hair, yellow clothing, striped details, and clown identity became closely linked with the McDonald's brand. He later appeared alongside characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese in the fictional McDonaldland setting.

The character is sometimes confused with Speedee, McDonald's earlier hamburger-chef mascot. Speedee represented the quick-service concept, while Ronald became the long-running family-oriented advertising figure. Ronald's introduction also helped shift McDonald's branding toward children's entertainment and memorable character storytelling.