Which McDonald’s mascot became the brand’s main advertising character in the 1960s?

Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s main advertising character in the 1960s.

The character was created as a cheerful clown aimed primarily at children and families. Early television appearances helped McDonald’s build a more playful, family-centered identity than its original Speedee character had provided.

Willard Scott portrayed Ronald McDonald in the first television advertisements, wearing a costume assembled from McDonald’s food packaging. The character’s appearance changed over time as the company refined its advertising style.

Ronald McDonald is often confused with the other members of the McDonaldland cast, including Grimace and the Hamburglar. Those figures supported the campaign, but Ronald remained its central human mascot for many years.