Willard Scott portrayed Ronald McDonald in his first televised McDonald's advertisement in 1963.
Scott was a Washington, D.C., television personality who played the character for local McDonald's commercials before Ronald became a national advertising figure. His version of Ronald wore a paper cup on his head, a tray around his waist, and a milkshake container as part of the costume.
Ronald's design changed substantially as McDonald's developed him into the central character of the McDonaldland advertising world. Later performers and costumes made the character more recognizable internationally, so people sometimes assume the modern version was the one used in the earliest commercial.
The 1963 debut is separate from the creation of McDonaldland, which followed later. Ronald McDonald became one of the best-known fast-food mascots in advertising history.