Grimace is the purple, friendly McDonald’s character introduced as part of McDonaldland in 1971.
Early versions of Grimace were portrayed differently from the familiar friendly character. He originally had four arms and was associated with stealing milkshakes, but McDonald’s later simplified his design and changed his personality into the good-natured companion widely recognized by customers.
Grimace appeared alongside Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Mayor McCheese, and other characters in advertising aimed at children. His unusual shape and bright purple color gave McDonald’s a distinctive visual character that was easy to identify in commercials and promotional materials.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar because both belonged to the same fictional advertising world. The Hamburglar was a food-stealing character, while Grimace’s defining identity became that of a friendly purple companion.