# What kind of a clown is Ronald McDonald? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 17, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351 "2002-08-17T16:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/1 "2002-08-17T16:39:42Z")
I have heard there are elaborate clown taxonomies. Specifically, what kind of clown is [Ronald McDonald](http://www.ronald.com/index.html)? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/2 "2002-08-17T16:44:45Z")
A con artist. ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/3 "2002-08-17T18:01:47Z")
Ronald would probably be classified as a white face (he’s the straightman, and his get-up (make-up and costume) are pretty simple and straightforward). but i’m not positive. i’ll have to email my friend (went to clown college) and get back to y’all. jb p.s.- first person to chime in with the identity of the first Ronald will get a quarter and applause (extry points for mentioning Steelritter) p.p.s.- kinda a clue, kinda a GQ- what is the name of the _other_ heavy-set African-American early morning weather guy? the fake Roker (or Froker, as we call him in these parts). I think his first name’s mark, but searching gets me get nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/4 "2002-08-17T20:10:05Z")
OK, **jb** - “Froker” would be [Mark McEwen](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/05/16/earlyshow/bios/main509342.shtml), and I was _really_ confused about the “clue” portion of that p.p.s until I found that the first Ronald was actually [Willard Scott](http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/info/history/history2/history2.html)! Well. Learn something new every day (around these parts, anyway!). ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/5 "2002-08-18T01:39:38Z")
Minor nitpick: Scott was the first to portray Ronald McDonald _on television_. Previously the character had been used for live promotional appearances at MCDonald’s stores, presumably portrayed by miscellaneous people. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/6 "2002-08-18T03:35:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Ron McDonald: There WAS nothing wrong with it. Until I was about 12 years old, and that _no-talent-ass-clown_ became famous and started selling burgers! Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/7 "2002-08-18T06:20:22Z")
The crying-on-the-inside kind, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/8 "2002-08-18T15:42:04Z")
Consider the following… **Ronald McDonald** : A) Has pasty white skin B) Likes the company of children C) Lives in seclusion B) Has his own fantasy world **Michael Jackson** : A) Has pasty white skin B) Likes the company of children C) Lives in seclusion B) Has his own fantasy world Hmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Spudo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Spudo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spudo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/9 "2002-08-18T16:05:10Z")
Evil Clown. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/10 "2002-08-18T16:58:58Z")
A happy corporate shill. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/11 "2002-08-18T17:42:42Z")
Clown sites seem to be divided between a “Whiteface” and an “Auguste”. From [http://cheesecakeandfriends.com/c-faq.htm](http://cheesecakeandfriends.com/c-faq.htm) > [@](#): > > Ronald McDonald and Bozo are good examples of comic whiteface clowns. From [http://sunniebunniezz.com/clowning/clowns.htm](http://sunniebunniezz.com/clowning/clowns.htm) > [@](#): > > Bozo and Ronald McDonald are two famous auguste clowns. “Whiteface” seems to have the edge, though there are sites besides that one claiming “Auguste”. Methinks “clown taxonomy” is not all that precise. The confusion seems to stem from the fact that Ronald McDonald’s routine and much of the costume tends to put him into the “Auguste” category, but the paint job includes a completely white face. “Whiteface” is probably more appropriate for a corporate shill flogging beef products anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rockford](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac8455/32.png) [@Rockford](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rockford)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2002, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-a-clown-is-ronald-mcdonald/124351/12 "2002-08-18T18:30:58Z")
Don’t know if this helps, but I thought it was worth mention. [http://adbusters.org/creativeresistance/35/4.html](http://adbusters.org/creativeresistance/35/4.html) 😃