Grimace is the large purple creature in McDonald’s McDonaldland character lineup.
Grimace was introduced in the early 1970s as part of the fictional McDonaldland world used in McDonald’s advertising. Early versions of the character were associated with a more specific product-stealing concept, but the character was later simplified into the friendly, clumsy figure widely recognized by audiences.
His unusual shape and purple color made Grimace visually distinctive in television commercials, packaging, and promotional materials. He appeared alongside Ronald McDonald and other characters created to give the brand a shared fantasy setting.
Grimace is sometimes confused with Birdie, another McDonaldland character introduced later to represent breakfast. Grimace’s defining branding feature is his purple, oversized appearance, not a food-specific costume or occupation.