A manually operated cable release apparatus, suitable for use in an electrically actuated brake, is provided for a locking mechanism having a shaft that is rotatable about an axis of rotation of the shaft, between a first angular position where the locking mechanism is disengaged, and a second angular position where the locking mechanism is engaged. The cable release apparatus includes a lever having one end thereof fixedly attached to the shaft and extending outward from the shaft for applying a force to the lever, for rotating the shaft back and forth through an angular displacement between the first and second angular positions. A cable is operatively connected to the lever in a manner allowing the shaft to rotate freely back and forth through the angular displacement of the shaft between the first and second angular positions without movement of the cable from a non-engaged position of the cable, and for engaging and applying a tensile force from the cable to the lever for rotating the shaft to the first position from any point in the angular displacement between the first and second angular positions of the shaft.