To provide an optical scanning actuator that is capable of realizing widening of a light scanning angle and is excellent in durability, the optical scanning actuator includes a movable unit that supports an optical element, a plurality of leaf springs having a thin plate shape with one end portion being fixed and another end portion being attached to the movable unit, and an electromagnetic driving unit including a magnet, a yoke laminated on the magnet to form a closed magnetic circuit together with the magnet, and a coil held by the movable unit. The coil is positioned in a gap between the magnet and the yoke such that opening plane of the coil is substantially orthogonal to a laminating direction of the magnet and the yoke. The movable unit is driven by an electromagnetic force appliedto the coil.