What McDonald’s character was known as the brand’s 1970s cheeseburger-headed mayor?

Mayor McCheese was McDonaldland’s cheeseburger-headed mayor in McDonald’s 1970s branding.

The character was designed as a civic leader within the fictional McDonaldland setting, wearing formal mayoral clothing while having a large cheeseburger for a head. This visual joke made the menu item itself part of the brand’s fantasy world.

Mayor McCheese appeared alongside Ronald McDonald and other characters in television commercials and promotional material. McDonaldland gave McDonald’s a continuing story environment rather than relying only on isolated product advertisements.

He is often confused with other McDonaldland figures. The Hamburglar was the mischievous burger thief, while Officer Big Mac was associated with policing. Mayor McCheese’s defining feature was his elected-official role and cheeseburger head, making him one of the clearest examples of 1970s character branding.