- Born
- Died
- Birth nameWillard Herman Scott Jr.
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Willard Scott was born on March 7, 1934 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Bozo the Clown (1959), Commander Retro (1966) and The Hogan Family (1986). He was married to Paris Maguire Keena and Mary Ellen Dwyer. He died on September 4, 2021 in Delaplane, Virginia, USA.
- SpousesParis Maguire Keena(April 1, 2014 - September 4, 2021) (his death)Mary Ellen Dwyer(August 7, 1959 - October 28, 2002) (her death, 2 children)
- ChildrenMary Phillips ScottSally Woodruff Scott
- ParentsWillard Herman Scott Sr.Thelma Mattie Phillips
- RelativesSally Marie Swiatek(Grandchild)John Willard Swiatek(Grandchild)
- His thick, gravelly voice.
- His hugs and kisses.
- Played both groundbreaking clowns in early television.
- The constant use of the catchphrase - "Never slap a man who chews tobacco."
- 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 the 1960s he became McDonald's' very first redhead clown, Ronald McDonald (originally named Donald McDonald).
- Portrayed Bozo the Clown for a number of years in the late 1950s to late 1960s on Washington DC's PBS channel.
- 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."
- McDonalds dropped him as Ronald McDonald when they went nationally with the character in favor of somebody thinner.
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