Actuator for an electrically operated vehicle door lock has an actuator plunger which is shiftable between first and second positions to lock and unlock the related door latch. The actuator plunger carries a resilient electrical contact element which coacts with one or more fixed contacts on a guide to close one or more respective circuits for operating other parts of the related system and/or signalling the condition of the related lock, such as whether it is locked or unlocked. Preferably the contacts slide into and out of engagement to provide silent operation and self-cleaning wiping action.