Anyone know how many actors have plated RM in McDonald’s TV commercials? Also, names and whether any of them went on to have a career? I did a few searches, but got entirely too many results to be useful.
Sua
P.S. Bonus IMHO question: which one do y’all think captured the essence of Ronald McDonald?
Well, of course Willard Scott was an early (if not the
first) RM.
I’ve seen a commercial with him, and he’s nothing like
today’s Ronald McDonald. He’s like Willard Scott with a
huge wig.
I have no idea how many, but I think the clown dates to
ca. 1960 - forty years, with changes probably every 3 years
or so.
There are tons of Ronalds. I know one of them, named Henry. That’s one of the corporate advantages of having a character who’s basically a clown; the actor under the wig and makeup is unrecognizable and can be replaced at any time if he starts getting “uppity” about being The One and Only Performer for that part.
Yep, Willard Scott can be credited (blamed?) for the first Ronald McDonald. Judging from the exterior of the oldest McD’s still in operation (in California), before Ronald there was a character named “Speedy”. I’ll bet the Alka-Seltzer people had something to say about that.
Ralph Fiennes, for the entire year 1986.
Actually, I believe it’s “Speedee”–and I’m not sure if that’s the character’s name or if it’s making a statement about it’s quickness–I believe “I’m Speedee” is the wording.
The character is that burger with a chef’s hat on, right? I think it’s winking and running.
Apparently the mascot was named Speedee, and toad is dead on regarding his description. Observe him in all his absurdity here.
Really… did he pronounce “Ronald” wrong too?
Do you recall the guy who did the Toyotathon commercials for about a decade. I’m positive he was also the Ronald during the early 90s. His voice was very distinctive.
Yes! I was so gonna mention that guy, but thought no one would know who I was talking about.
trembling, gripping back of chair
What do you mean, actor you played Ronald McDonald? Actor? Do you mean…Ronald McDonald…isn’t REAL?!?
I wouldn’t have a clue who played Ronald McDonald, but I do know that the guy who used to play Humphrey B. Bear over here was a Paedophile…TRUE STORY!!
He was in Yatala Labour prison! I think he’s out now and we deported him to the states to do the ads for Taco Bell
Cranky, you have clearly misunderstood this thread. Of course, Ronald is real. We’re just pondering that if somebody was going to play Ronald, who would we want to see in the part…yeah, that’s the ticket.
So let go of the chair…let go of the chair. Yeah, you can do it. Ok, now take a deep breath. You feeling better now, Cranky?
Oh, and it gives me warm fuzzies to know that Alpha and I both agree that obscure Toyota pitchmen are perfect for the part.
Undoubtedly, the actor who captured the essence of Ronald McDonald was Benny Hill. I would have said that Terry Raymond of Eastenders fame, played the part fo the anti-christ to a ‘t’ but there were some flaws. For instance, Terry Raymond’s suit wasn’t even white and red - it was shock horror purple and white. Benny Hill on the other hand, who played Ronald McDonald twice before his sudden death captured the spirit of what was to be the Icon of childhood. Yes, the whole scenario may have been one man’s severe acid trip, but children everywhere would run in hoardes to the nearest McDonalds just to cath a glimpse of their hero whenever he came into town. Benny Hill applied both humour and an emotional quality to ronald. He allowed us to understand that Ronald wasn’t just a clown. He was a clown with needs. RIP Benny Hill. You will be sadly missed.
I’m thinking that maybe RM should be female…with ALL the trimmings…not including mayo of course! That’s just grotty!
Yes, Cranky, there is a Ronald McDonald. So long as the spirit of love and giving, and an unquenchable desire for quickly prepared flavored styrofoam, there will always be a Ronald McDonald.
The New York Times Editorial Board
A scary clown is a scary clown is a scary clown.
Per “Dirty Harry”: “I gots to know…” Is this true?
I vaugely recall reading a magazine story in a waiting room or somewhere that one guy who played RM way back when subsequently converted to an Eastern religion --perhaps Hindusim-- and used some of the money he made to buy land in Oregon or some such hippie haven. He then populated it with retired dairy cows, who would otherwise have ended up in McD “sandwiches” (not “hamburgers”, which by law have to be 100% beef). I’m pretty sure I really read this instead of hallucinating it, but it sounds too far out to have actually ocurred.
JCHeckler,
FTR, when I worked at McDonald’s er…um… x number of years ago, all the packages of meat patties were labeled 100% beef. So unless you subscribe to some sort of grand conspiracy (and if things haven’t changed since my time), McD sandwiches are indeed hamburgers.
Tinker
A possible source of the rumor that McD’s doesn’t use 100% beef in their patties is the fact that they use a mixture of steer beef and dairy cow beef. This is for two reasons: First, it allows them to regulate the fat content of their meat more closely, and second, it’s cheaper. It’s still all beef, though, unless you count the special sauce, lettuce,cheese, etc., and all burgers have non-beef toppings.