Abstract: An electro-hydraulic actuator having an electric motor disposed in a hydraulic fluid reservoir and connected to drive a hydraulic fluid pump. The actuator includes a piston rod which extends or retracts as a piston is hydraulically driven in a cylinder. An actuator housing forms the reservoir and cylinder and contains hydraulic passages connecting the pump, reservoir and cylinder. The actuator includes a one-way filter for filtering the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic pump is preferably a rotating piston type and includes a port plate which allows the pump to drive the piston while the retract and extend chambers of the pump have different or unbalanced fluid drive ratios. A load limiting valve protects the system from excessive hydraulic pressure and a position sensor detects the position of the piston rod.