Who played Ronald McDonald in an early 1960s McDonald’s television commercial?

Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in an early 1960s McDonald’s television commercial.

Scott was a television personality and weather presenter who appeared as the character during Ronald McDonald’s early development. His performance helped introduce the clown mascot to television audiences at a time when McDonald’s was expanding its family-oriented advertising.

The early version of Ronald McDonald did not look exactly like the later character. The commercial’s costume incorporated McDonald’s products into the design, reflecting an advertising style that made the mascot immediately connected to hamburgers and the restaurant chain.

The character later acquired a more standardized appearance and became one of the most recognizable figures in fast-food advertising. Willard Scott is sometimes remembered only for his later television career, but his earlier connection with Ronald McDonald is an important part of McDonald’s branding history.