Stephanie Kay Panabaker (born May 2, 1990), better known as Kay Panabaker, is an American former film and television actress. She has an older sister named Danielle Panabaker.
Early years
Panabaker was born in Orange, Texas, to Donna (née Mayock) and Harold Panabaker. Following in sister Danielle Panabaker's footsteps, she started acting at various community theatres in Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Atlanta, Georgia. In Naperville, Illinois, Kay attended Crone Middle School for sixth grade, and moved to Los Angeles, California, at the start of seventh grade.
In between projects, Kay focuses on her academics. She graduated from high school as valedictorian when she was 13 years old. Kay received two academic scholarships from Glendale Community College, 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, History Program as a Junior and completed her Bachelor of Arts in history before she turned 18.
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 GarcÃa; "Ellisha" in Medium; "Lindsey Willows" in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation; to name a few. 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 2004â€"05 season. She also appeared as "George" in the 2007 Nancy Drew: The Mystery in Hollywood Hills alongside Emma Roberts and Amy Bruckner.
Panabaker had a recurring role in Phil of the Future as straight-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 Panabaker also stars. In 2006, Panabaker was in the first ever 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!. Movies 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 teenage Kitty Walker on Brothers and Sisters.
Panabaker starred in the ABC sci-fi drama series No Ordinary Family (2010â€"11), the series ran 20 episodes.
Panabaker played Samantha Caldone in the ABC Family movie Cyberbully (2011).
As of 2012, Panabaker is working as a zoologist.
Filmography
Discography
Awards and honors
Panabaker holds a Seat on the National Board of the Coalition for Quality Children's Media.
References
External links
- Kay Panabaker at AllMovie
- Kay Panabaker at the Internet Movie Database
- "Yahoo! Movies"
- Interview at Portrait magazine