Grimace was the purple, blob-shaped McDonald's character introduced in 1971.
Grimace appeared as part of the McDonaldland cast, the fictional setting used in McDonald's advertising and family marketing. Early versions of the character were associated with stealing milkshakes, but the character was later presented more simply as Ronald McDonald's friendly companion.
The character's large purple body, rounded shape, and limited facial features made Grimace visually distinctive in television commercials, playgrounds, toys, and promotional materials. His design and personality changed over the decades, so different generations may remember different versions.
Grimace is often confused with the Hamburglar because both were recurring McDonaldland characters. The Hamburglar was a small, striped, burger-themed trickster, while Grimace was the large purple character. Mayor McCheese was another separate character with a cheeseburger head.