Mayor McCheese was the McDonaldland character designed as a walking cheeseburger and presented as its mayor.
The character had a large cheeseburger for a head, complete with a sesame-seed bun, cheese, and hamburger patty. He wore formal mayoral clothing, including a suit, sash, and top hat, turning a menu item into a civic leader within McDonald's fantasy world.
Mayor McCheese appeared alongside Ronald McDonald and other characters in McDonald's commercials and promotional material. His design made the connection between the fictional setting and the restaurant's food especially direct.
He is often confused with Officer Big Mac, another McDonaldland character whose head was shaped like a Big Mac. The distinction is straightforward: Mayor McCheese represented a cheeseburger and held the mayoral role, while Officer Big Mac was the law-enforcement character.