Grimace is the McDonald’s character that debuted in 1971 as a large, purple mascot often shown beside Ronald McDonald.
McDonaldland advertising presented Grimace as one of the chain’s recurring fictional characters. He was originally depicted with four arms and as a character who stole milkshakes, but McDonald’s later changed him into the friendly, clumsy figure widely recognized today.
Grimace was part of a broader character universe that included the Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, Birdie the Early Bird, and others. His simple appearance and limited dialogue made him easy to recognize in television commercials, restaurant displays, and promotional materials.
A common mix-up is confusing Grimace’s debut with Ronald McDonald’s, whose character had appeared earlier. Grimace’s 1971 introduction belongs to the expansion of McDonaldland branding during the early 1970s.