Ronald McDonald first appeared in a 1963 television commercial created for a Washington, D.C., McDonald's restaurant.
The character was developed as a friendly clown who could make the brand appealing to children. Willard Scott, then a Washington television personality, played the earliest version of Ronald McDonald in local commercials. The character's look later evolved into the familiar red-haired clown with a yellow jumpsuit and red-and-white striped clothing.
Ronald was not McDonald's first mascot. Speedee had represented the restaurant's fast-service system since 1948, but the company wanted a character with stronger family and children's appeal. Ronald became the centerpiece of a larger fictional world that included characters such as the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese.
People sometimes place Ronald's debut later because national campaigns made him famous after his local introduction. His first appearance, however, is associated with a Washington, D.C., commercial in 1963.