Ronald McDonald became McDonald’s official spokesperson after appearing in a 1963 television commercial.
The character was created for McDonald’s advertising in the early 1960s and was played in his first television appearance by Willard Scott, who was then a Washington, D.C., radio and television personality. Ronald’s design used familiar fast-food imagery, including a paper-cup hat, a tray-like costume, and a red-and-yellow color scheme.
Ronald soon became the central human-like figure in McDonald’s advertising and the best-known member of McDonaldland. His prominence marked a shift from the earlier Speedee mascot, whose branding emphasized service speed rather than a continuing character personality.
The character is sometimes confused with the restaurant’s earliest mascot or with later McDonaldland figures. Speedee came first, while Grimace and the Hamburglar were introduced later. Ronald’s 1963 television appearance is the key milestone that established him as McDonald’s public advertising spokesperson.