The Original Ronald McDonald

August 28, 2026

Ringling Bros. circus clown Michael “Coco” Polakovs became the first performer to portray Ronald McDonald in a national television advertising campaign. Unlike later versions of the character, Coco’s Ronald was essentially a silent clown, relying on physical comedy rather than dialogue. Polakovs appeared as Ronald in eight commercials filmed in 1967, following an appearance in the 1966 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His interpretation also helped refine Ronald’s familiar appearance, updating the character’s makeup, bright red wig, and costume for a national audience.

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