Mayor McCheese was the McDonald's mascot with a cheeseburger-shaped head who served as a fictional mayor.
Mayor McCheese was one of the central officials in McDonaldland, the imaginary setting used in McDonald's advertising from the 1970s onward. His oversized cheeseburger head, formal mayoral clothing, and exaggerated public-speaking style made him immediately distinct from the other characters.
The character was part of a broader brand strategy that turned menu items and restaurant ideas into a friendly fantasy world. Ronald McDonald served as the central figure, while characters such as Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie the Early Bird filled supporting roles.
Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac because both had food-inspired heads and appeared as civic figures. The decisive clue is the cheeseburger head and the title of mayor; Officer Big Mac had a Big Mac-shaped head and a police role.