A thin film magnetic head has a media opposing surface which is adapted to be opposed to a recording medium, and includes a sacrificial layer, on a substratum that has a surface for forming the media opposing surface having at least one rail. A tracking mechanism or loading/unloading mechanism can be provided on the slider. An electrostatic actuator suitable for driving such a mechanism includes a stationary section having a plurality of teeth parallel to each other, a movable section having a plurality of teeth parallel to the teeth of the stationary section, a support spring for supporting the movable section so that the movable section can be moved with respect to the stationary section in the tooth width direction. A drive force generator moves the movable section to a position at which an electrostatic attraction force in the tooth width direction generated when a voltage is impresses between the teeth of the stationary section and those of the movable section, is balanced with the elastic force of the head suspension.