Mayor McCheese was the McDonaldland character portrayed as a hamburger-headed mayor.
The character appeared in McDonald’s fictional advertising world during the campaign’s classic period. Mayor McCheese was recognizable by a large cheeseburger-shaped head, formal mayoral clothing, and a ceremonial chain. His design turned the restaurant’s signature food into a personified civic leader.
Mayor McCheese was one of several McDonaldland figures created to make McDonald’s advertising more imaginative and memorable for children. Other characters included Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird. Their relationships and appearances varied across commercials and promotional materials.
Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac, another McDonaldland character associated with a hamburger-themed design. The two were separate characters. Mayor McCheese also should not be mistaken for the McDonald’s mascot Ronald McDonald, who was the principal human-like figure in the campaign.