A hydraulically damped actuator closes a hinged closure system. The actuator includes an energy storing mechanism that stores energy when the closure system is being opened and restores the energy to effect closure of the closure system. A hydraulic damping mechanism damps the closing movement of the closure system. The actuator further includes a tubular cylinder barrel with first and a second ends and a rotatable shaft with first and a second extremities. The shaft extends through the tubular cylinder barrel. Both extremities of the shaft are available to be connected with a mechanical connector that transfers rotation of the closure system to the shaft, which allows the actuator to be mounted in two opposing orientations depending on the handedness of the closure system.