Which McDonald's mascot was first introduced in 1963 as the chain's advertising clown?

Ronald McDonald was first introduced in 1963 as McDonald's advertising clown.

The character appeared in early television advertising as the restaurant expanded its family-oriented image. Willard Scott played the first Ronald McDonald in a series of Washington, D.C.-area commercials, helping establish the character before later performers and redesigns shaped his familiar appearance.

Ronald became the central figure in McDonaldland, a fictional setting populated by characters including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese. This advertising world gave McDonald's a distinctive identity aimed especially at children and families.

Ronald McDonald is sometimes confused with the chain's earlier mascot, Speedee. Speedee represented fast service and belonged to the restaurant's earlier branding, while Ronald represented the later family-entertainment phase of McDonald's marketing.