Magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing devices and actuators and distance detectors for use therewith are disclosed. The magneto-optical disk device includes a bimorph type actuator or an electromagnetic actuator for driving the magnetic head of the magneto-optical disk device. The bimorph actuator has a metallic shim having a width that varies with respect to the longitudinal distance in inverse proportion to the normal function of the first or the second free natural vibration mode. Alternatively, the bimorph type actuator has a recess formed on a bimorph element to expose a piezoelectric portion which outputs a voltage corresponding to the acceleration of the vibration of the actuator. The driver circuit of the actuator reduces the driving voltage when the frequency of the voltage generated at the recess comes into the neighborhood of a higher resonance frequency of the actuator. The optical distance detector comprises a light-emitting diode and a pair of photodiodes which detects the amount of light incident thereon after the light is reflected from a surface of an object the distance to which is measured. The geometric parameters of the photodiodes are selected such that the output of a first photodiode decreases as the measured distance increases while the output of a second photodiode increases as the measured distance increases. Thus, the normalized differential output of the two photodiodes, from which the measured distance is determined, varies substantially linearly with respect to the measured distance. In preferred forms, the photodetectors have stepped concentric configurations so that small distances can be measured accurately and efficiently.