Willard Scott was the first actor to portray Ronald McDonald in a 1963 television advertisement.
Scott played the character for Washington, D.C.-area advertising connected with the local McDonald's market. Before Ronald became the familiar red-haired mascot seen in national campaigns, the character appeared in different forms and was played by different performers.
The 1963 appearance is historically important because it helped establish Ronald as McDonald's signature branded character. Scott later became widely known as a television weather presenter, especially through NBC's Today program.
A common mix-up is crediting the later Ronald performers with creating the character. The costume, makeup, and visual design changed over time, while Scott is specifically associated with Ronald's earliest television portrayal.