Who played the original Ronald McDonald in McDonald's early television advertising?

Willard Scott played the original Ronald McDonald in McDonald's early television advertising.

Before becoming a nationally standardized mascot, Ronald McDonald was created for local McDonald's advertising in the Washington, D.C., area. Weather presenter and entertainer Willard Scott portrayed the first version of the character in a television commercial, wearing a costume built from recognizable McDonald's food imagery.

That early costume included a paper cup used as a hat and a tray-like element, reflecting the restaurant's products rather than the later polished character design. McDonald's subsequently refined Ronald's appearance for broader campaigns, giving him the familiar red-haired clown look and more consistent costume.

Scott is sometimes remembered only for his later television career, which can obscure this connection to McDonald's branding. He did not create the Golden Arches or serve as McDonald's corporate founder; his role was specifically portraying the first televised Ronald McDonald.