Willard Scott created and first portrayed Ronald McDonald for a 1963 television commercial.
Scott, then a television personality and weather presenter in Washington, D.C., appeared as the character in a local McDonald's advertisement. The early costume used familiar fast-food imagery, including a paper cup and a tray as parts of the character's outfit. This first version differed noticeably from the polished design that McDonald's later standardized nationally.
Ronald McDonald became the chain's principal mascot during the 1960s, joining a broader advertising strategy aimed at children and families. The character eventually appeared in television commercials, print advertising, restaurant promotions, and the fictional McDonaldland setting.
People sometimes attribute Ronald McDonald's creation to the company’s later advertising agencies or confuse him with the earlier Speedee mascot. Scott's 1963 commercial is the specific origin usually cited for the character's first appearance, while later designers and performers shaped his enduring public image.