A hydraulic actuator system includes a power source, a controller in communication with the power source, a piezoelectric stack comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed within a sleeve to define a chamber at one end of the sleeve, pressure accumulators in fluid communication with the chamber, a flow control valve in communication with the accumulators, and a hydraulic piston in fluid communication with the flow control valve. The communication between the power source and the controller may be electrical or photo communication, and the power source is preferably remotely located relative to the other elements of the hydraulic actuator system. The method for controlling a remotely located hydraulic actuator includes communicating a signal to the hydraulic actuator, pressurizing a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic actuator, and directing the hydraulic fluid to a cylinder in the hydraulic actuator to bias a piston either into or away from the cylinder.