Who first portrayed Ronald McDonald in a McDonald’s commercial?

Willard Scott first portrayed Ronald McDonald in a McDonald’s commercial.

Scott played the character in 1963 for commercials shown in the Washington, D.C., area, where he was known as a television personality and weather presenter. His version helped establish the clown mascot before Ronald was standardized for wider national advertising.

Scott later said that he had previously performed a similar clown character called Bozo the Clown. That connection is one reason accounts of Ronald McDonald’s origins can become muddled, although Ronald was developed specifically for McDonald’s promotion.

The character’s costume and visual identity evolved after Scott’s early appearance. Later performers and designers made Ronald more consistent across advertisements, restaurants, and McDonaldland merchandise.