Which McDonald’s character was the elected mayor of the fictional McDonaldland?

Mayor McCheese was the elected mayor of the fictional McDonaldland.

The character had a human body topped by a large cheeseburger head, combining a civic role with McDonald’s most recognizable food. Mayor McCheese appeared in the company’s McDonaldland advertising alongside Ronald McDonald, Grimace, the Hamburglar, and other characters.

His role gave the fantasy setting a parody of a real community. McDonaldland could therefore be presented as a place with residents, officials, and recurring stories rather than simply a collection of food mascots. The character’s formal title was part of the joke and helped distinguish him from figures whose identities were based on specific menu items or actions.

Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac, another character whose name referenced a McDonald’s product. The mayor’s defining feature was not law enforcement but his position as the town’s elected official.