<P> The Boy in the Plastic Bubble is a 1976 American made - for - television drama film inspired by the lives of David Vetter and Ted DeVita , who lacked effective immune systems . It stars John Travolta , Glynnis O'Connor , Diana Hyland , Robert Reed , and P.J. Soles . It was written by Douglas Day Stewart , executive produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg ( who , at the time , produced Starsky and Hutch and Charlie 's Angels ) , and directed by Randal Kleiser , who would work with Travolta again in Grease shortly after . The original music score was composed by Mark Snow . The theme song `` What Would They Say '' was written and sung by Paul Williams . William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills was used for filming . </P>
who starred in the boy in the plastic bubble
John Travolta Glynnis O'Connor Diana Hyland Robert Reed P.J. Soles