Ronald McDonald debuted in a 1963 television commercial featuring a restaurant shaped like a hamburger.
The character was created to give McDonald's a recognizable human mascot for television advertising. The first widely noted portrayal was by Willard Scott, who had played a similar clown character on local television before appearing as Ronald for McDonald's.
Ronald's costume and appearance changed over time. Early versions were more directly built from restaurant imagery, including a tray-like hat and cup details, while later versions developed the familiar yellow jumpsuit, red hair, and striped clothing.
Ronald later became the central figure in McDonaldland, where he appeared with characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. His debut therefore predates that larger fictional world.