Kay Panabaker
Panabaker in 2007
Born
Stephanie Kay Panabaker

(1990-05-02) May 2, 1990 (age 33)
Orange, Texas, U.S.
Alma materGlendale Community College
University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation(s)Zoologist, Actress
Years active2001–2012 (acting)
2016–present (zoology)
RelativesDanielle Panabaker (older sister)

Stephanie Kay Panabaker[1] (born May 2, 1990)[2] is an American zoologist and retired actress. She is known for her roles as Jenny Garison in the 2009 reboot of Fame, Debbie Berwick on Phil of the Future, and Nikki Westerly on Summerland. She is the younger sister of actress Danielle Panabaker.

Early years

Panabaker was born in Orange, Texas, to Donna (née Mayock) and Harold Panabaker.[3] Following in older sister Danielle's footsteps, she started acting at various community theatres in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. In Naperville, Illinois she attended Crone Middle School for sixth grade, and moved to Los Angeles at the start of seventh grade.

Between projects, Panabaker focused on academics. She graduated from high school as the valedictorian when she was 13 years old.[4] Kay received two academic scholarships from Glendale Community College,[5][6] where she studied acting and was on the Dean's list. She graduated with an associate degree with honors when she was 15. She was accepted by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), History Program as a junior and completed her Bachelor of Arts in history before she turned 18.[3]

Career

Panabaker has guest-starred in several television dramas and soap operas. She portrayed Alice Brand in 7th Heaven, Melissa Rue in ER, Sara in Port Charles, Carrie Bauer in The Brothers García, Ellisha in Medium, and Lindsey Willows in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, to name a few.[7] At 21, she was completely convincing as a 14-year-old runaway forced into prostitution on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In film, she appeared in Dead Heat as Sam LaRoche; and did some voice work in the Disney/Pixar film, Monsters, Inc.. Panabaker's breakout role came when she starred in The WB's Summerland as Nikki Westerly, in the 2004–05 season. She also appeared as George in Nancy Drew (2007) alongside Emma Roberts and Amy Bruckner.[8]

Panabaker had a recurring role in Phil of the Future as strait-laced Debbie Berwick, a friend of and foil to Pim Diffy (played by Amy Bruckner). She starred in Life Is Ruff as Emily Watson alongside Kyle Massey and Mitchel Musso. In July 2006, she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Read It and Weep (based on the book How My Private Personal Journal Became a Bestseller), in which her sister Danielle also stars. In 2006, Panabaker was in the first Disney Channel Games, on the Red Team with Zac Efron, Anneliese van der Pol, Moises Arias, Dylan Sprouse, and Shin Koyamada as part of the Disney Channel's So Hot Summer!.[7] Her films include Moondance Alexander and The Prince and the Pauper with Dylan and Cole Sprouse. Panabaker starred in the remake of Fame as Jenny, an actress; the film was released in theaters on September 25, 2009. She also played the teenaged Kitty Walker on Brothers & Sisters.[8]

Panabaker starred in the ABC sci-fi drama series No 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 film Cyberbully.[8]

After playing Rosa in Beverly 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 at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World.[10]

Personal life

In February 2022, Panabaker announced that she had gotten married to Yoni Yates.[11]

Filmography

Film

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

Television

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"

Music video

Year Artist Song Notes
2006 Jordan Pruitt "Outside Looking In" From No Ordinary Girl and Read It and Weep (single to promote the movie)

Awards and honors

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]

Awards and nominations
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]

References

  1. ^ "Kay Panabaker | TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2019. Retrieved Feb 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "Kay Panabaker". www.facebook.com. Retrieved Feb 11, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Kay Panabaker". Biography. TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2013. Has worked with various children's organizations, including Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Young Storytellers Foundation, and Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation.
  4. ^ Nathan Southern. "Kay Panabaker". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  5. ^ "Kay Panabaker". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  6. ^ a b Rice, Lynette (May 12, 2010). "Breaking: ABC picks up 'No Ordinary Family' starring Michael Chikilis". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 13, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Kay Panabaker". Credits. TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c "Kay Panabaker". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Kay Panabaker: Biography". TV.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Waslaski, Casey (June 2, 2016). "Remember Kay Panabaker from Disney Channel's 'Read it and Weep'? You'll never guess what she's up to now". AOL. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  11. ^ Kay Panabaker [@kaypanabaker] (February 6, 2022). "10/10, would marry this man again" – via Instagram.
  12. ^ Southern, Nathan. "Kay Panabaker". AllMovie. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  13. ^ "CQCM Board and Staff". National Board. KidsFirst.org. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "Twenty-Fourth Annual Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards Foundation. Archived from the original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  15. ^ "25th Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Foundation. Archived from the original on August 2, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "26th Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Foundation. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  17. ^ Ryan, Helen. "Better with Age – Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival Grows Up". LAsThePlace. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "29th Young Artist Awards". Archived from the original on July 6, 2008.

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