1. Object Management Group (OMG). (2017). Unified Modeling Language (UML) Specification, Version 2.5.1. Section 18.1.2.1, "Actors," p. 639. The specification states, "An Actor models a type of role played by an entity that interacts with the subjects (e.g., by exchanging signals and data), but which is external to the subjects." (The "subject" refers to the system).
2. Fowler, M. (2003). UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language (3rd ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional. In Chapter 9, "Use Case Diagrams," it is stated: "Actors are roles that people (or things) play when interacting with the system. ... Actors are outside the system" (p. 102).
3. Cockburn, A. (2001). Writing Effective Use Cases. Addison-Wesley Professional. In Chapter 2, "The Basic Use Case," Cockburn defines a primary actor as having a goal requiring the assistance of the system and notes that actors are "something outside the system" (p. 23).