Kay Panabaker | |
|---|---|
 Panabaker in 2007 | |
| Born | Stephanie Kay Panabaker (1990-05-02)May 2, 1990 (age 34) |
| Alma mater | Glendale Community College University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation(s) | Zoologist, Actress |
| Years active | 2000–2012 (acting) 2016–present (zoology) |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Danielle Panabaker (sister) |
Stephanie Kay Panabaker[1] (born May 2, 1990)[2] is an Americanzoologist and retired actress. She is known for her roles as Jenny Garison in the 2009 reboot ofFame, Debbie Berwick onPhil of the Future, and Nikki Westerly onSummerland. She is the younger sister of actressDanielle Panabaker.
Panabaker was born inOrange, Texas, to Donna (née Mayock) and Harold Panabaker.[3] Following in older sister Danielle's footsteps, she started acting at variouscommunity theatres inChicago,Philadelphia, andAtlanta. InNaperville, Illinois she attendedCrone Middle School for sixth grade, and moved toLos Angeles at the start of seventh grade.
Between projects, Panabaker focused on academics. She graduated from high school as thevaledictorian when she was 13 years old.[4] Kay received two academicscholarships fromGlendale Community College,[5][6] where she studiedacting and was on the Dean's list. She graduated with anassociate degree withhonors when she was 15. She was accepted by theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), History Program as ajunior and completed herBachelor of Arts in history before she turned 18.[3]
Panabaker has guest-starred in several television dramas and soap operas. She portrayed Alice Brand in7th Heaven, Melissa Rue inER, Sara inPort Charles, Carrie Bauer inThe Brothers García, Ellisha inMedium, andLindsey Willows inCSI: Crime Scene Investigation, to name a few.[7] At 21, she was completely convincing as a 14-year-old runaway forced into prostitution onLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit. In film, she appeared inDead Heat as Sam LaRoche; and did some voice work in theDisney/Pixar film,Monsters, Inc.. Panabaker's breakout role came when she starred inThe WB'sSummerland as Nikki Westerly, in the 2004–05 season. She also appeared as George inNancy Drew (2007) alongsideEmma Roberts andAmy Bruckner.[8]
Panabaker had a recurring role inPhil of the Future as strait-lacedDebbie Berwick, a friend of andfoil to Pim Diffy (played byAmy Bruckner). She starred inLife Is Ruff as Emily Watson alongsideKyle Massey andMitchel Musso. In July 2006, she starred in theDisney Channel Original MovieRead It and Weep (based on the bookHow My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller), in which her sister Danielle also stars. In 2006, Panabaker was in the firstDisney Channel Games, on the Red Team withZac Efron,Anneliese van der Pol,Moises Arias,Dylan Sprouse, andShin Koyamada as part of theDisney Channel'sSo Hot Summer!.[7] Her films includeMoondance Alexander andThe Prince and the Pauper withDylan and Cole Sprouse. Panabaker starred in the remake ofFame as Jenny, an actress; the film was released in theaters on September 25, 2009. She also played the teenaged Kitty Walker onBrothers & Sisters.[8]
Panabaker starred in the ABCsci-fi drama seriesNo Ordinary Family, which ran for a single season ending in 2011 after 20 episodes.[6][9] In 2011, Panabaker played Samantha Caldone in the ABC Family filmCyberbully.[8]
After playing Rosa inBeverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta in 2012, Panabaker retired from acting. She went on to study zoology at UCLA, and as of 2016 works as a zookeeper atDisney's Animal Kingdom inWalt Disney World.[10]
On February 6, 2022, Panabaker announced that she had married Yoni Yates.[11]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes[9][12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Monsters, Inc. | Garbage Monster | Voice role |
| 2002 | Temptation | Jamie Savini | Short film |
| Dead Heat | Samantha LaRoche | ||
| 2007 | Moondance Alexander | Moondance Alexander | |
| Nancy Drew | George Fayne | ||
| A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper | Elizabeth | ||
| 2009 | Fame | Jenny Garrison | |
| 2010 | The Lake Effect | Celia | |
| 2011 | Little Birds | Allison | |
| 2012 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! | Rosa | Voice role and final film role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes[9] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Jamie Kennedy Experiment | Kelly | 2 episodes |
| Port Charles | Sara | 1 episode | |
| ER | Melissa Rue | Episode: "The Letter" | |
| 7th Heaven | Alice Brand | Episode: "Regarding Eric" | |
| 2002–2003 | Angel | Mesektet (The Girl) | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Division | Susie Jenkins | Episode: "Cold Comfort" |
| The Brothers García | Carrie Bauer | Episode: "Moving On Up" | |
| 2004–2005 | Summerland | Nikki Westerly | Main role (26 episodes) |
| Phil of the Future | Debbie Berwick | 13 episodes | |
| 2005 | Mom at Sixteen | Young Macy (uncredited)[citation needed] | Television film |
| Medium | Elisha | Episode: "Penny for Your Thoughts" | |
| Life Is Ruff | Emily Watson | Disney Channel original television film | |
| 2006 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Cheerleader Lacey | Voice, episode: "Bring It On" |
| Disney Channel Games | Herself / Contestant | Part of Red Team | |
| Read It and Weep | Jamie Bartlett | Disney Channel original television film | |
| 2006–2011 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Lindsey Willows | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | The Winner | Vivica | Episode: "Single Dates" |
| Two and a Half Men | Sophie | Episode: "Tucked, Taped and Gorgeous" | |
| The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Amber | Episode: "First Day of High School" | |
| Custody | Amanda Gordon | Television film | |
| Weeds | Amelia | Episode: "He Taught Me How to Drive By" | |
| Boston Legal | Abby Holt | Episode: "The Chicken and the Leg" | |
| Ghost Whisperer | Marlo Sinclair | Episode: "Bad Blood" | |
| 2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Emma Anderson | Episode: "All by Myself" |
| 2009 | Happy Campers | Dylan | Television film |
| A Marriage | Maddy Gabriel | Television film | |
| Lie to Me | Emily Lightman (scenes deleted)[citation needed] | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Mental | Aysnley Skoff | Episode: "Manic at the Disco" | |
| 2010 | Brothers & Sisters | Young Kitty Walker | Episode: "Time After Time" |
| Secrets in the Walls | Lizzie | Television film | |
| 2010–2011 | No Ordinary Family | Daphne Nicole Powell | Main role (20 episodes) |
| 2011 | Cyberbully | Samantha Caldone | Television film |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Vicki Harris | Episode: "Spiraling Down"; final TV role |
| Year | Artist | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Jordan Pruitt | "Outside Looking In" | FromNo Ordinary Girl andRead It and Weep (single to promote the movie) |
Panabaker previously held a Seat on the National Board of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media. As of 2020 this was no longer the case.[13]
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Drama Series – Guest Starring Young Actress | ER(episode: "The Letter") | Nominated | [14] |
| 2004 | Best Performance in a Commercial | Youth Anti-Smoking PSA | [15] | ||
| 2005 | Best Performance in a Television Series – Recurring Young Actress | Phil of the Future | [16] | ||
| Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress | Summerland | Won | [16] | ||
| 2007 | Temecula Valley International Film Festival | Rising Star Award | [17] | ||
| 2008 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress | Moondance Alexander | Nominated | [18] |
| Best Performance in a Feature Film – Young Ensemble Cast | Nancy Drew(shared with rest of cast) | [18] |
Has worked with various children's organizations, includingChildren's Hospital Los Angeles,Young Storytellers Foundation, andStarlight Starbright Children's Foundation.
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