<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Scudder
Variable Life Investment Fund Growth and Income Portfolio Annual Report for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
        <NUMBER> 8
        <NAME>  VLIF for GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                         74,730,607
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                        90,356,936
<RECEIVABLES>                                    879,519
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                     3,066
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                91,239,521
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          76,620
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         71,354
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              147,974
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                        0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                      70,952,059
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          9,724,734
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          6,510,714
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                        716,479
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        3,799,669
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                               0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      15,626,340
<NET-ASSETS>                                  91,091,547
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2,451,899
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                154,234
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                   450,851
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        2,155,282
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       3,798,567
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      7,841,874
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         13,795,723
<EQUALIZATION>                                         0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    (1,781,057)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       (729,093)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                  0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        5,669,995
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  (2,757,898)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              301,924
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        39,129,113
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          403,970
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        665,292
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                             0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                            326,033
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                  450,851
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          68,564,087
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                               7.98
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                     0.27
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                             1.46
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                0.23
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                           0.11
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                 9.37 
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                     0.66
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                   0
        

</TABLE>