Mayor McCheese was McDonald’s hamburger-headed mayor introduced in 1971.
The character belonged to McDonaldland, a fantasy setting created for McDonald’s advertising. Mayor McCheese wore a mayoral sash and had a large cheeseburger for a head. His design turned a familiar menu item into a friendly character and helped the company build a recognizable advertising world for children.
Mayor McCheese is sometimes mixed up with other McDonaldland figures. The Hamburglar was a hamburger thief, while Officer Big Mac was a police character with a Big Mac-shaped head. Captain Crook was associated with Filet-O-Fish promotion. The characters appeared in commercials, packaging, and promotional material, although their prominence changed over time as McDonald’s advertising strategy evolved.