Mayor McCheese was the hamburger-headed mayor in McDonald’s original McDonaldland advertising cast.
The character appeared as a civic leader in the fictional world created for McDonald’s advertising. His head was shaped like a hamburger, and his role combined familiar municipal imagery with the company’s food branding. That combination made him visually distinctive among the characters.
Mayor McCheese is often confused with Officer Big Mac because both were personified food-themed public figures. Officer Big Mac had a head modeled on a Big Mac, while Mayor McCheese was the hamburger-headed mayor.
McDonaldland characters helped McDonald’s create a consistent fantasy setting for children’s advertising during the 1970s. The setting connected restaurants, mascots, toys, and television commercials, although the characters’ prominence changed over time as McDonald’s advertising style evolved.