Who was McDonald’s first televised Ronald McDonald performer?

Willard Scott was McDonald’s first televised Ronald McDonald performer.

Scott played Ronald McDonald in early Washington, D.C., television advertising in 1963. Before becoming widely known for his later broadcasting career, he worked as a television personality and helped introduce the clown character to viewers.

The original costume differed from the standardized Ronald McDonald design that audiences later recognized. Early advertising used food-related visual elements, including a tray-like hat, to connect the character directly with McDonald’s products.

Scott’s performance is sometimes confused with the people who portrayed Ronald in later national campaigns. Ronald McDonald became a continuing character played by different performers, so identifying the first televised performer requires distinguishing the 1963 local advertisements from later appearances.