List of Famous people who died at 18

Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States after failing to be re-admitted to school following a diagnosis of AIDS. As a hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated factor VIII blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live. Doctors said he posed no risk to other students, as AIDS is not an airborne disease and spreads solely through bodily fluids, but AIDS was poorly understood by the general public at the time. When White tried to return to school, many parents and teachers in Howard County rallied against his attendance due to concerns of the disease spreading through bodily fluid transfer. A lengthy administrative appeal process ensued, and news of the conflict turned Ryan into a popular celebrity and advocate for AIDS research and public education. Surprising his doctors, Ryan White lived five years longer than predicted. He died on April 8, 1990, one month before his high school graduation.

Rina Matsuno was a Japanese singer, model, actress and tarento who was a member of girl idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku.

Aisha Chaudhary was an Indian author and motivational speaker. She is the author of the book My Little Epiphanies, published one day before her death. The film The Sky Is Pink is based on her life.

Zachary David Sobiech was an American singer-songwriter and musician from Lakeland, Minnesota, who was a member of the band A Firm Handshake. The single "Clouds" gained extensive media attention on YouTube, prior to Sobiech's death from cancer in May 2013. It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually becoming a hit also in the UK, Canada and France. On October 18, 2020 the song "Clouds" topped the iTunes song chart at the number #1 spot. His philosophy was that in his last days of life due to his cancer, he needed to make people happy.

Kavi Kumar Azad was an Indian actor best known for his portrayal of Dr. Hansraj Hathi in the popular Indian sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. He died on 9 July 2018 following heart attack.

Leah Sarah Betts was a young woman from Latchingdon, Essex, United Kingdom. She is notable for the extensive media coverage that followed her death shortly after her 18th birthday. On 11 November, she took an ecstasy (MDMA) tablet, and then drank approximately 7 litres of water in a 90 minute period. Four hours later, she collapsed into a coma, from which she did not recover. Her family have since campaigned against drug abuse.

Yukiko Okada was a Japanese idol and winner of the talent show Star Tanjō! in Tokyo, Japan.

Robert Arthur Knox was an English actor who portrayed the character of Marcus Belby in the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and had signed to appear in the planned film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Emily Irene Sander was an 18-year-old student at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, United States, who was reported missing on November 23, 2007 and found dead six days later. Her disappearance was widely covered in the mainstream news media. Israel Mireles was named as a suspect; he was arrested in Mexico and in February 2010 found guilty of her murder.

Mary Anissa Jones was an American child actress known for her role as Buffy on the CBS sitcom Family Affair, which ran from 1966 to 1971. She died from combined drug intoxication at the age of 18.