Grimace was the large purple McDonald's advertising character introduced in 1971.
The character originally appeared with a different concept and multiple arms, representing milkshake cups. McDonald's later simplified Grimace into the friendly, large purple character recognized by audiences today. That redesign made him a more approachable member of the company's fictional advertising cast.
Grimace appeared alongside Ronald McDonald and other McDonaldland characters in television commercials, packaging, toys, and promotional material. His simple shape and unusual color made him visually distinct from the human characters and food-themed mascots.
A common mix-up is confusing Grimace with Mayor McCheese, another McDonaldland character whose head resembles a cheeseburger. Grimace's identity is not based on a hamburger; his defining branding features are his purple color, large rounded body, and association with McDonald's milkshakes.