Ronald McDonald appeared in McDonald's first television commercial featuring the character in 1963.
The early Ronald was played by Willard Scott, then a television personality in the Washington, D.C., area. Scott had already appeared as Bozo the Clown, and McDonald's adapted that clown-centered appeal for its own restaurant advertising.
The 1963 commercial helped establish Ronald as a recognizable brand figure. His costume and appearance changed over time, eventually becoming the red-haired clown image associated with McDonald's national advertising.
This history is distinct from the earlier Speedee mascot, a small chef-like figure used before Ronald. It is also separate from the later McDonaldland ensemble, which added characters such as the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese. Ronald became the central humanlike mascot of that expanding advertising world.