What was the original name of McDonald’s character Grimace?

McDonald’s character Grimace was originally called Evil Grimace.

When the character appeared in early McDonald’s advertising, Evil Grimace was portrayed as a four-armed figure who stole milkshakes. The character’s role was substantially different from the friendly, simple purple companion familiar from later campaigns.

McDonald’s subsequently removed the extra arms and changed the character’s personality. Grimace became a cheerful, child-friendly figure associated with Ronald McDonald and the wider McDonaldland cast.

People often assume Grimace was always designed as a gentle mascot, but the early advertising history shows a clear redesign. The change illustrates how McDonald’s refined its character branding to make the figure more approachable and suitable for family-oriented marketing.