Willard Scott played the original television version of Ronald McDonald in a 1963 McDonald's advertisement.
Scott was a television personality and weather presenter who appeared as Ronald McDonald in early promotional work. The character was created as a friendly clown designed to appeal especially to children and families, helping McDonald’s build a distinctive advertising world around its restaurants.
The early version of Ronald McDonald did not look exactly like the later standardized character. His costume and props changed as the company refined the character’s appearance. Later performers portrayed Ronald in advertisements, public appearances, and promotional events.
The character became the central figure of McDonaldland, a fictional setting populated by other McDonald’s advertising characters. A frequent mistake is assuming that the first performer and the long-term public image of Ronald were the same person. Scott’s role belongs specifically to the character’s earliest television advertising history.