Ronald McDonald appeared in McDonald's 1963 television advertising before the character became nationally famous.
The character debuted in a commercial made for the Washington, D.C., market, where Willard Scott played the first Ronald. The early costume used exaggerated food-related props, including a tray worn as part of the character's outfit. McDonald's later refined the design and expanded Ronald into a national mascot.
Ronald's rise occurred during a period when American fast-food companies increasingly used recurring characters in television advertising directed at families and children. His later appearances connected him with McDonaldland and a larger group of branded characters. The 1963 debut is separate from the introductions of Grimace and other McDonaldland figures.