Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in the first Ronald McDonald television advertisement.
The advertisement appeared in 1963 and was created for the Washington, D.C., market. Scott was already known locally for portraying Bozo the Clown, making him a natural choice for a new clown character associated with a family restaurant.
The early version of Ronald wore a costume assembled from McDonald's products, including a cup used as headwear and a tray-like element. Later versions developed a more consistent appearance, with the red-haired clown becoming a national and international advertising figure.
Willard Scott's role is sometimes overlooked because many performers later portrayed Ronald McDonald in different markets. The fact refers specifically to the first television advertisement and its original performer, not to every actor who subsequently played the character.