Who portrayed Ronald McDonald in his earliest television advertisements?

Willard Scott portrayed Ronald McDonald in the character’s earliest television advertisements.

Before becoming widely known as a television weather presenter, Scott appeared as the McDonald’s clown in early commercials. His portrayal helped introduce Ronald to viewers during the character’s first advertising period in 1963. The role was subsequently played by other performers as McDonald’s expanded its marketing.

Scott’s portrayal is often mixed up with the later performers who appeared in Ronald’s costume. The important historical point is that the original television Ronald was not a single permanent actor. McDonald’s treated the character as a continuing mascot whose appearance could be performed by different people.

Ronald’s early commercials helped establish a consistent visual identity for the chain’s child-focused marketing. The character later appeared alongside fictional figures such as the Hamburglar and Grimace, turning individual advertisements into a broader branded world.