<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-028122
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040526
<FILING-DATE>20040527
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WHITEMAN STEVEN D
<CIK>0001254505
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24607
<FILM-NUMBER>04834945
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>ACTUATE CORP
<STREET2>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<CITY>SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>99080
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ACTUATE CORP
<CIK>0001062478
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7372
<IRS-NUMBER>943193197
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
<PHONE>6504252300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ACTUATE SOFTWARE CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19980527
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd43864.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001062478</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACTUATE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACTU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254505</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITEMAN STEVEN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>701 GATEWAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-05-26</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven Whiteman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
