Which McDonald’s character is known as the hamburger-stealing villain?

The Hamburglar is McDonald’s character known as the hamburger-stealing villain.

He was one of the recurring figures in McDonaldland advertising, the fictional world created for McDonald’s commercials and promotions. The character’s central gag was attempting to steal hamburgers, especially Big Macs, while Ronald McDonald and the other characters tried to stop him.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. Early versions were portrayed as a short, older-looking character, while a later redesign made him younger and more cartoon-like. His striped clothing, cape, and mask became recognizable parts of McDonald’s character branding.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace because both were major McDonaldland figures. Their roles were different: the Hamburglar represented playful mischief, while Grimace was generally portrayed as a friendly companion with a less specific food-related identity.