Mayor McCheese was the McDonald's mascot depicted as a mayor with a cheeseburger for a head.
Mayor McCheese appeared in McDonald's advertising during the 1970s as the mayor of a fictional community populated by the company's food-themed characters. His large burger head, formal mayoral clothing, and civic role made him visually distinct from Ronald McDonald and the other mascots.
The character was part of a broader branding strategy that turned menu items and restaurant concepts into a recognizable cast. This approach gave McDonald's advertising a continuing story world that could support television commercials, packaging, and promotional materials.
Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac, another character whose design referenced the Big Mac. Their names and roles were different: Mayor McCheese represented the fictional town's government, while Officer Big Mac served as a police character.