Who played Ronald McDonald in the earliest televised McDonald's commercials?

Willard Scott played Ronald McDonald in the earliest televised McDonald's commercials.

Before Ronald became the fully developed red-haired mascot known worldwide, Scott portrayed the character in local Washington, D.C.-area television advertising. The early version was deliberately built around recognizable fast-food imagery, including a cup-like hat and other visual references to McDonald's products.

Scott later became widely known as a television weather presenter, especially through NBC's “Today” show. His connection with Ronald McDonald is therefore sometimes overlooked, particularly because later actors and performers portrayed the mascot as the character expanded into national advertising and live appearances.

Ronald McDonald was introduced in the early 1960s and eventually became the central figure of McDonaldland, alongside characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. The character's design and role changed over time, but Scott's performance belongs to the earliest televised stage of the brand's mascot history.