Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in McDonald’s first television commercial featuring the character.
Scott portrayed Ronald in early McDonald’s advertising during the 1960s. The character’s appearance was built around familiar clown imagery, including bright clothing, face paint, and a distinctive red-haired look, but the campaign adapted those elements specifically for McDonald’s branding.
Ronald McDonald became the company’s best-known long-term mascot and was later joined by other McDonaldland characters. His role expanded beyond individual commercials into restaurant appearances, children’s events, merchandise, and public-facing promotions.
People sometimes identify Ronald’s first performer with later actors who portrayed him in national advertising or live appearances. Willard Scott is specifically associated with the earliest television-commercial portrayal, not every subsequent performance of the character.