An actuator assembly (10) for pivoting a closure (29), such as a tailgate, includes an actuator (11), a first bar (20), a second bar (22), and an operating strut (21) operably connected to the closure (29). The actuator (11) includes an actuator rod (16) reciprocable along a longitudinal axis (L-L). The first bar (20) has one end connected via a first pivot (18) to an outer end of the actuator rod (16) and the other end connected via a second pivot (19) to the operating strut (21). The second bar (22) is pivoted at one end relative to the actuator (11) by a third pivot (24) and the other end connected to said first bar (20) by a fourth pivot (23). The first, second, third and fourth pivots (18, 19, 23, 24) have a series of substantially parallel axes that are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (L-L) of the actuator rod (16).