<P> Robert Opel (born Robert Oppel, October 23, 1939--July 7, 1979) was an American photographer and art gallery owner most famous as the man who streaked during the 46th Academy Awards in 1974 . </P> <P> Opel was born in East Orange, New Jersey, in 1939 . As a child, he lived in Canada, Kansas, and Kentucky before his family settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended grade school, high school, and college . Born Robert Oppel, he dropped a "p" from his name once becoming an activist to distance himself from his family in Pittsburgh . Opel was concerned his activities would cause the family embarrassment . </P>

Who streaked across the stage at the 1974 academy awards