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

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

The character first appeared in a television advertisement created for the Washington, D.C., market. Willard Scott played the early version of Ronald McDonald, using a costume that incorporated McDonald’s food packaging. The character was then developed into the colorful clown familiar from later national advertising.

Ronald became the central figure in McDonald’s family-oriented branding. His presence supported the company’s appeal to children and helped connect restaurants with entertainment, play, and imaginative storytelling.

Ronald McDonald is distinct from the McDonaldland characters introduced later. The Hamburglar, Grimace, and Mayor McCheese belonged to the wider fictional world, while Ronald served as the company’s principal named mascot.