Grimace

Grimace is a character featured in McDonaldland commercials. He is a rotund, purple being of indeterminate species with short arms and legs. He is known for his slow-witted demeanor. His most common expression is the word "duh" before every sentence.

He had been voiced by Frank Welker and, sometimes, Larry Moran in the commercials, and Kevin Michael Richardson in the VHS series "The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald". He was portrayed by Patti Saunders from 1971-1984 and Terry Castillo from 1984-2003.

Origins
Originally, Grimace was the "Evil Grimace", with two pairs of arms with which to steal milkshakes. After that first campaign, the character was revised to be one of the "good guys", and his number of arms was reduced by two. These commercials and merchandise generally portray him as a well-meaning simpleton, whose clumsy antics provide a comic foil to Ronald McDonald. The character was retained after the streamlining of the characters in the 1980s and was one of the few members to also be retained until the end of the McDonaldland commercials.

Following an appearance at Dodger Stadium on July 18th, 2012 vs. the Philadephia Phillies, dancing to Ram Jam's 1977 classic, Black Betty, Grimace seemingly disappeared.

For a number of years Grimace vanished from public life, appearing only in Malaysian Happy Meal toys. His first public appearance after his 2012 disappearance was at the 2020 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside Ronald McDonald. He appeared once again with Ronald and the Hamburgular during the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

In early 2022, the McDonald's TikTok and Twitter accounts began using Grimace in promoted video posts featuring an animated Grimace ordering food at a McDonald's and beginning his order by saying "Can I get uhhhhhh...". Grimace has since been featured in additional social media advertising.

Family

 * Main article: Grimace's Family

As time went on, Grimace's family were seen in commercials and the VHS series "The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald". He has an unnamed mom, an unnamed dad, a grandma named "Winky", a great, great grandma named Jenny Grimace, and a possible brother named King Gonga (who rules over all Grimaces).

In a 1999 commercial for McDonald's, Grimace has two aunts named Millie and Tillie, whom Ronald mistook for actual ants while on a picnic.

While many family members have been mentioned, most heavily seen and mentioned is Uncle O'Grimacey, who came one month every year, around St. Patrick's Day in March, to bring Shamrock Shakes.

Trivia

 * Though Grimace is a male, he was portrayed by female actors, first Patti Saunders, then Terry Castillo.