Many stars got their start with Disney Channel Original Movies and television shows, but some of the former Disney child stars eventually disappeared from Hollywood. Any millennial who grew up watching and loving the Disney Channel will recognize Kay Panabaker. Her breakout role was in the WB's Summerland, Aaron Spelling's drama about teenagers being raised by their aunt after the death of their parents (also with another Disney teen idol, Zac Efron).

Although not listed as one of ours the best Disney Channel shows of the 2000sshe was in Season 1 of Future Phil, a quirky sitcom about a teenager from the year 2121 stuck in 2004. Kay Panabaker brings her warm energy to the role of Debbie, a sugary sweet girl with cute clothes and a sunny smile who's also hiding something. She also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Life is Rough with It's So Raven's Kyle Massey and Hannah Montana's Mitchell Musso. Her best-known DCOM is Read It and Weep, a clever comedy about a timid schoolgirl whose private magazine becomes a bestseller. Kay's sister, Danielle Panabaker, plays her character's more confused and popular alter ego, Isabella.

Kay Panabaker did find success outside of Disney, starring in the remake of Fame and the mature indie Little Birds alongside Ted Lasso and "Fargo" star Juno Temple, about troubled teenage refugees. However, she disappeared from Hollywood after the cancellation of the superhero television series No Ordinary Family and her last project Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta! in 2012. Even so, Kay Panabaker will be returning to Disney in one of the most unique ways.

said Kay Panabaker Naperville magazine that the reason she left Hollywood was because she didn't fall in love with acting. She was also frustrated by the toxic aspects of the industry, such as a producer who said she needed to lose weight to have a love interest storyline. Panabaker found a new passion in an 18-month animal program at Santa Fe College. After graduation, she did an internship at the Disney World Zoo and was then hired as an assistant animal keeper.

"I don't make a fraction of what I used to make, and yet, I couldn't be happier," she said. In her new role, Kay Panabaker manages the welfare of many animals, including elephants, pigs, donkeys and parrots. She can still use her theater skills for presentations on the Animal Kingdom stages. Kay Panabaker's take on changing directions and discovering what you love is inspiring:

"You have to love your job because you spend a lot of time there. So I did it. And I just want people to love what they do, whatever that is. Happy people have a huge impact on the world. all the negative things in the world and how much it affects the Earth itself, I just want to be a light in the world."

We often frame it as a tragedy when child stars disappear from Hollywood, but just because you're an actor at a young age doesn't mean it has to define your entire life. Kay Panabaker seems to have found the perfect home for her interests, and the fact that she continues to work with Disney — first bringing joy to audiences on TV screens and now in theme parks — truly feels like happily ever after.