Grimace is the purple, rounded McDonald's character who debuted in advertising in 1971.
Grimace originally appeared as a more unusual character with multiple arms and a role connected to milkshakes. McDonald's later simplified his design into the large, friendly purple figure familiar from restaurants, packaging, and commercials.
The character became part of the McDonaldland group, appearing with Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, and Mayor McCheese. His later personality was intentionally gentle and child-friendly, making him suitable for the family-oriented brand identity McDonald's was building.
Grimace is sometimes misidentified as a food item or assumed to be a version of the Hamburglar. He is a distinct mascot, and his purple color and rounded silhouette became his defining branding features.