Who portrayed the first television version of Ronald McDonald?

Willard Scott portrayed the first television version of Ronald McDonald.

Scott appeared as Ronald in early McDonald’s commercials in 1963, before the character acquired the standardized look used in later national campaigns. His portrayal helped introduce the clown as a friendly guide to the restaurant’s food and family experience.

Scott was already known as a television personality and later became widely recognized as a weather presenter on NBC’s Today. His connection with Ronald McDonald is sometimes overlooked because many different performers portrayed the character over the decades.

Ronald’s appearance evolved after the original commercials. The costume became more consistent, and the character was placed in the expanding McDonaldland universe alongside figures such as Grimace and the Hamburglar. The first performer, however, was Willard Scott.