Which McDonald’s mascot was introduced in 1963 as a clown character for children?

Ronald McDonald was introduced in 1963 as McDonald’s clown mascot for children.

The character first appeared in a McDonald’s television commercial performed by Willard Scott, who was then known for playing Bozo the Clown on television. Ronald’s bright clothing, red hair, and oversized shoes made him visually distinctive and easy for young viewers to recognize.

Ronald later became the central figure in McDonaldland, a fantasy setting created for McDonald’s advertising in 1971. Other characters, including the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese, appeared alongside him. This sometimes causes confusion between Ronald McDonald himself and the wider McDonaldland cast.

Ronald McDonald became one of the best-known fast-food mascots in the world, although McDonald’s gradually reduced his prominence in many markets during the 2010s. He remains part of the company’s historical branding and is still associated with its children’s marketing.