Overview (4)
| Born | in Alexandria, Virginia, USA |
| Died | in Delaplane, Virginia, USA (natural causes) |
| Birth Name | Willard Herman Scott Jr. |
| Height | 6' 3" (1.91 m) |
Mini Bio (1)
Willard Scott was born on March 7, 1934 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Bozo the Clown (1959), Valerie (1986) and McDonaldland (1963). He was previously married to Paris Maguire Keena and Mary Ellen Dwyer. He died on September 4, 2021 in Delaplane, Virginia, USA.
Family (4)
| Spouse |
Paris Maguire Keena (1 April 2014 -
4 September 2021) (his death)
Mary Ellen Dwyer (7 August 1959 - 28 October 2002) (her death) (2 children) |
| Children |
Mary Phillips Scott
Sally Woodruff Scott |
| Parents |
Willard Herman Scott Sr.
Thelma Mattie Phillips |
| Relatives |
Sally Marie Swiatek
(grandchild)
John Willard Swiatek (grandchild) |
Trivia (13)
Began career as an NBC Page.
In the 1960s he became McDonald's' very first redhead clown, Ronald McDonald (originally named Donald McDonald).
McDonalds dropped him as Ronald McDonald when they went nationally with the character in favor of somebody thinner.
His "Happy Birthday" segments on Today began in 1983 when a viewer wrote in to ask him to wish her mother happy 100th birthday on air.
in "Willard Scott's Down Home Stories," he recounts from his radio days when he received his all-time favorite letter from a fan: "Dear Mr. Scott - I think you're the best disc jockey in Washington. You play the best music and have the nicest voice of anyone on the air. Please excuse the crayon - they won't let us have anything sharp in here."
Father of two daughters.
Is the announcer in the television commercials for Smuckers [May 2007]
Still steps in occasionally to do weather on Today (1952) for Al Roker. Appeared on the 50th Anniversary "Today" program on January 14th. [January 2002]
Co-host, with Beverly Breckenridge, of an infomercial for Universal Music's "Those Wonderful Years" music collection. [2006]
Portrayed Bozo the Clown for a number of years in the late 1950s to late 1960s on Washington DC's PBS channel.
Currently resides in Sanibel, Florida [April 2020].
Portrayed Ronald McDonald in the McDonald's commercial ads from 1963 to 1965.
Was born only 9 miles south of Katie Couric's birthplace of Arlington, Virginia. They both worked on Today (1952).
