Abstract: An elevator machine (10) includes a motor (12) that rotationally drives a machine shaft (14). An elevator machine brake (20) applies braking force to a disk (22) that is coupled to the machine shaft (14) to slow or stop the rotation of the machine shaft (14). In one example, the elevator machine brake (20) includes a bias member (38) that applies a bias force to a caliper arrangement (32) to provide a braking force on the disk (22). A brake actuator (48) having a shape-changing material moves against the bias force to control engagement between the caliper arrangement (32) and the disk (22). A controller (26) selectively varies the braking force applied to the disk (22) by controlling an electric input to the shape-changing material of the brake actuator (48).