{"id":19974,"date":"2019-07-29T17:25:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T21:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/?p=19974"},"modified":"2026-09-17T17:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T21:26:49","slug":"remembering-russi-taylor-as-mcdonalds-birdie-the-early-bird-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/remembering-russi-taylor-as-mcdonalds-birdie-the-early-bird-2\/19974\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Russi Taylor As McDonald\u2019s Birdie The Early Bird"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Heather Taylor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world lost a very special character talent this weekend with the passing of Russi Taylor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"birdie_early_bird\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For more than 30 years, the voiceover actress was Disney\u2019s iconic Minnie Mouse<\/a>. Taylor was also known for her work on The Simpsons<\/em> as Bart Simpson\u2019s nerdy classmate Martin Prince. In the advertising landscape, Taylor lent her vocal range to another beloved character: Birdie the Early Bird from McDonald\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Night Birdie The Early Bird Came To McDonaldland<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The world first met Birdie in a 1986 McDonald\u2019s commercial narrated by John Fiedler (another Disney alum famously known for playing Piglet!). Her arrival to McDonaldland, and as a new character mascot, was a unique one. Birdie might now be famously known for being an early bird, but she made her debut at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mcdonaldland_birdie_early_bird\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A box fell from the sky and landed in McDonaldland. Ronald and his McDonaldland friends \u2014 Grimace, The Professor, and Hamburglar \u2014 crowded around this mysterious box. A small label was attached that read, \u201cOpen me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grimace begged Ronald to open the box. Once the ribbons were undone, the characters discovered a giant egg inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mcdonaldland_birdie_early_bird_2\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What kind of egg was it? According to Ronald and The Professor\u2019s careful research, the egg was an early bird egg. Ronald\u2019s lantern revealed Birdie\u2019s outline was<\/em> inside. However, it was still much too soon for the egg to hatch. What would happen next?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hatching Birdie<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ronald and his McDonaldland pals tried to get the egg to hatch on their own, but nothing worked. Ronald suggested the best way to hatch their new playmate was to give the egg some love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The McDonaldland characters built a \u201cnest\u201d out of pillows and blankets. They surrounded the egg to keep it warm and slept with it all through the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mcdonaldland_birdie_early_bird_3\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Suddenly, the egg started to crack. It was morning already and the crack in the egg looked just like a smile! The egg split open and the pigtailed Birdie The Early Bird popped out. \u201cMcDonaldland is where I\u2019ll stay!\u201d she exclaimed, flapping her wings and greeting her new pals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Birdie\u2019s First McDonald\u2019s Commercial<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n