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Every child's best friend.

Ronald McDonald first appeared to the public in Washington DC in 1963 and his first national US appearance was in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on November 25, 1966.

In 1967, McDonald's Corporation named Ronald McDonald its official spokesperson and ambassador to children, following which Ronald McDonald appeared on US national television "starring" in a McDonald's commercial. Since then he has become a household name, second only to Santa Claus in popularity! Today, Ronald McDonald is McDonald's Chief Happiness Officer - a title that represents his quest to bring happiness to one and all. As well as McDonald's Ambassador for Balanced, Active Lifestyles.

Ronald McDonald lives in the very heart of McDonaldland. He is funny, generous, warm, smart, friendly and caring. Ronald McDonald is all the good things that come to mind when you think of a friend. He is always surrounded by his McDonaldland friends - Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie and Fry Gals and Guys.

Ronald McDonald has a unique way of showing the world to children through his eyes. It's a world that sparkles and shines with all the funny, magical and wonderful touches that only Ronald McDonald can provide.

People love Ronald McDonald because he can be trusted and he never lets a child down. When he speaks, Ronald McDonald is friendly, fun and easily understood by children as young as two years old.

Since 1967, (when McDonald's first began to open stores outside the US) Ronald McDonald has learned to speak more than 24 languages and dialects including English, Japanese, German, Gaelic, French, Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Thai, Finnish, Indonesian, Italian, Russian, Arabic, Malay, German, Tagalog, Turkish and Hindi.

Although he has become an international celebrity, Ronald McDonald remains the same friendly, fun-loving person. His favourite food is still hamburgers - and his favourite people are still children!