A hydraulic actuator (20) with a built-in hydrostatic pressure compensator (111) is provided. The actuator (20) includes an actuator housing (30), a compensator cylinder portion (86), a compensator piston portion (94), a first compensator piston chamber (98), a second compensator piston chamber (103), a hydraulic port (106), and a hydraulic via (108). The compensator cylinder portion (86) is located within the actuator housing (30), is fixed relative to the housing (30), and has a compensator cylinder internal chamber (88) formed therein. The compensator piston portion (94) slidably fits within the compensator cylinder internal chamber (88). The first compensator piston chamber (98) is formed between a first side (101) of the compensator piston portion (94) and the compensator cylinder portion (86). The second compensator piston chamber (103) is formed between a second side (102) of the compensator piston portion (94) and the compensator cylinder portion (86). The hydraulic port (106) is routed through the housing (30) and opens to the first compensator piston chamber (98). The hydraulic via (108) fluidly couples the second compensator piston chamber (103) with a first housing internal chamber (82).