Mayor McCheese was the McDonaldland character with a cheeseburger-shaped head.
He appeared in McDonald's advertising during the 1970s as the mayor of the fictional McDonaldland community. His design combined a large cheeseburger head with formal civic clothing, a mayoral sash, and other elements that made him recognizable as a town leader.
Mayor McCheese helped McDonald's turn its advertising into a continuing story world rather than a series of unrelated product commercials. He appeared alongside characters including Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird.
The character is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar because both belong to McDonaldland's classic cast. Their visual roles were different: Mayor McCheese represented the town's authority, while the Hamburglar was a mischievous character associated with stealing hamburgers. The name “Mayor McCheese” also identifies the character specifically, rather than a general burger-themed mascot.