Which McDonald's character was the first to appear in a McDonaldland television commercial?

Ronald McDonald was the first McDonaldland character to appear in a McDonald's television commercial.

Ronald was introduced in 1963 as a clown character designed to appeal to children. Early advertisements established him as a friendly guide to the McDonald's restaurant world, helping the company connect its food and locations with imaginative play.

Other McDonaldland figures, including Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese, appeared later as the fictional setting expanded. Their roles and designs changed over time, but Ronald remained the central advertising figure for many years.

This history can be confusing because Ronald was not the first mascot in all McDonald's branding: Speedee had represented the company earlier. The distinction is that Ronald was the first character specifically associated with the McDonaldland television-commercial universe.