Grimace was introduced in 1971 as a purple, furry member of McDonaldland.
The character’s early appearances differed from the friendly figure most audiences know today. Grimace was initially portrayed with multiple arms and a more mischievous role connected to milkshakes, but McDonald’s later simplified his design and personality.
That redesign helped make Grimace a warmer, more child-friendly companion to Ronald McDonald and the other McDonaldland characters. His distinctive purple appearance made him easy to recognize in television commercials, packaging, and promotional material.
Grimace is sometimes mistaken for a character introduced much later, but his McDonaldland debut dates to 1971. Birdie the Early Bird arrived in 1980, while the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese belonged to earlier McDonaldland advertising.