Which McDonald’s character was introduced in 1971 as a large, hamburger-headed mayor?

Mayor McCheese was the McDonald’s character introduced in 1971 as a large, hamburger-headed mayor.

The character was part of McDonaldland, McDonald’s fictional advertising setting populated by humanlike and food-themed figures. Mayor McCheese wore a mayoral sash and formal clothing, while his oversized hamburger head made the character immediately identifiable to children.

He appeared alongside Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and other characters in television commercials and promotional material. His design combined a civic office with the restaurant’s signature food imagery, making the brand’s fantasy world easy to recognize.

Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac, another McDonaldland character whose name references the Big Mac sandwich. They are separate figures: Mayor McCheese is the hamburger-headed mayor, while Officer Big Mac is associated with law enforcement.