Grimace is the McDonald’s character known for his purple, rounded appearance.
Grimace joined the McDonaldland cast in the early 1970s. His first version was more mischievous and had multiple arms, but the character was later redesigned into the large, friendly purple figure familiar from McDonald’s advertising and promotional materials.
The character’s exact personality and backstory have varied across campaigns. That flexibility helped Grimace work as a playful companion to Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland figures. His simple silhouette also made him easy to recognize in illustrations, costumes, and merchandise.
Grimace is sometimes confused with the Hamburglar because both are McDonaldland characters. Their visual identities are distinct: Grimace is purple and rounded, while the Hamburglar is associated with striped clothing and hamburger-stealing antics.