Grimace was McDonald's purple creature in the McDonaldland advertising cast.
The character first appeared in McDonald's advertising in the early 1970s and was originally presented with a more unusual design. Over time, Grimace became a large, friendly, purple character known for his simple speech and cheerful personality.
Grimace belonged to the same fictional advertising world as Ronald McDonald, the Hamburglar, Birdie, and Mayor McCheese. These characters helped McDonald's build a distinctive family-oriented identity rather than relying only on food photography or restaurant architecture.
A frequent mix-up is confusing Grimace with the Hamburglar, whose character was defined by a black-and-white burglar costume. Grimace's purple appearance and rounded shape are the key identifiers associated with his brand role.