Mayor McCheese was portrayed as the elected mayor of McDonaldland.
Mayor McCheese was one of the principal characters in McDonald’s McDonaldland advertising universe. He was depicted with a large cheeseburger for a head and wore clothing associated with a mayor, including a suit and formal accessories.
The character appeared alongside Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and other fictional figures. McDonald’s used these characters in television commercials and promotional material to give its food and restaurants a shared story world.
People sometimes confuse Mayor McCheese with the Hamburglar because both were prominent McDonaldland characters. Their roles were different: Mayor McCheese represented the community’s civic leader, while the Hamburglar was characterized by his attempts to steal hamburgers. The character is a branding figure, not a real McDonald’s employee or mascot used at every restaurant.