Kay Panabaker, born Stephanie Kay Panabaker on May 2, 1990, in Orange, Texas, is an American zoologist and retired actress. She is best known for her roles in television series and films during the early 2000s.

Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Danielle Panabaker, she began acting at a young age, performing in community theaters in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. She moved to Los Angeles at the start of seventh grade to pursue her acting career more seriously. 

Despite her busy acting schedule, she excelled academically, graduating from high school as valedictorian at the age of 13. She received two academic scholarships from Glendale Community College, where she studied acting and graduated with an associate degree with honors at 15. 

She then attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in history before turning 18.

Her acting career began with guest roles in several television dramas and soap operas, including "7th Heaven," "ER," "Port Charles," "The Brothers García," "Medium," and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Her breakout role came when she starred as Nikki Westerly in the WB's "Summerland" during the 2004-2005 season. 

She also appeared as Debbie Berwick in the Disney Channel series "Phil of the Future" and starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Read It and Weep" alongside her sister Danielle. Her film credits include "Dead Heat," "Nancy Drew," "Moondance Alexander," and the 2009 remake of "Fame," where she played the role of Jenny Garrison.

In 2012, she decided to retire from acting to pursue her passion for zoology. She now works as a zookeeper for Disney, where she continues to make a positive impact on the lives of animals. 

Her personal life has been relatively private, but it is known that she married Yoni Yates in 2022. Throughout her career, she received several awards and nominations, including a Young Artist Award for her performance in "Summerland" and a Rising Star Award at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival.