Ronald McDonald was the first McDonald's character to appear in the company's McDonaldland advertising world.
Ronald debuted in a 1963 television commercial for the Washington, D.C., area. The early version of the character was played by local television personality Willard Scott, who wore a costume assembled from McDonald's food imagery, including a cup-like hat and tray details.
The character was created to give McDonald's a memorable personality aimed at children. He later became the central figure in a larger cast of McDonaldland characters, including Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, and Grimace.
The distinction matters because many McDonaldland characters are remembered together. Ronald was the initial character associated with the world, while several others were introduced or developed afterward as the campaign expanded.