McDonald’s purple character introduced in advertising in the early 1970s is Grimace.
Grimace first appeared as a large purple character associated with McDonald’s advertising. Early versions were described as having more than one set of arms and were connected with the theft of milkshakes, but the character was soon simplified into the friendly, rounded figure familiar to later audiences.
His design helped McDonald’s build a cast of distinctive characters around Ronald McDonald. Grimace’s unusual shape and purple color made him easy for children to recognize, while his later personality emphasized friendliness and an innocent love of food.
Grimace is often mixed up with the Hamburglar, whose black costume and burger-stealing behavior made him visually different. Birdie the Early Bird was another later McDonald’s character, created to promote breakfast. These characters belonged to the broader McDonald’s advertising world, but Grimace remained the purple character.