Which McDonald’s character was promoted as the mayor of McDonaldland?

Mayor McCheese was promoted as the mayor of McDonaldland.

Mayor McCheese was a costumed advertising character with a large cheeseburger for a head. He appeared in McDonald’s McDonaldland campaigns alongside characters including Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and the Hamburglar. His title gave the fictional setting a civic structure and helped make the advertising world feel like a connected community.

The character belonged to McDonald’s broader effort to build a recognizable fantasy setting around its restaurant brand. During the 1970s, McDonaldland characters appeared in television commercials, packaging, and promotional material aimed largely at children and families.

Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac because both characters had public-service roles and burger-based designs. The distinguishing title is important: Mayor McCheese governed McDonaldland, while Officer Big Mac was associated with law enforcement.