Captain Crook

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Captain Crook is a fictional character who was used in marketing for McDonald's fast-food restaurants from 1971. This character was a pirate and is similar in appearance to the famed Captain Hook. Unlike McDonald's character, the Hamburglar, this villain spent his time trying to steal Filet-O-Fish sandwiches from citizens of McDonaldland while avoiding being caught by Big Mac, the Chief of police of McDonaldland. Unlike the Hamburglar, Captain Crook used ships and waterways as means to escape being captured. His nautical theme corresponded with the fried, breaded fish-patty sandwich offered by the restaurant.

During the streamlining of the '80s and the '90s, this character was dropped, as the Filet-O-Fish sandwich became a less prominent offering on the menu. In his final appearances, he was renamed simply "The Captain" and his character design made less sinister. Although he was still portrayed by an actor in a full-body suit, a hand-worked puppet version was used in close-ups.

Despite the character being dropped from advertising campaigns, Captain Crook can still be seen in some restaurants as part of the decorations of the "Playland" playgrounds.


McDonald's
People: Dick and Mac McDonald | Ray Kroc
Ralph Alvarez | Fred L. Turner | Jim Skinner | George Cohon | Don Gorske | Michael R. Quinlan | Joan B. Kroc

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