EX-99.906CERT

                                  CERTIFICATION

            Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


      Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a)
and (b) of section 1350, chapter 63 of title 18, United States Code), each of
the undersigned officers of the TIAA-CREF Life Funds, do hereby certify, to such
officer's knowledge, that:

      The semi-annual report on Form N-CSR of the TIAA-CREF Life Funds (the
      "Funds") for the six month period ended June 30, 2003 (the "Form N-CSR")
      fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
      Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form
      N-CSR fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
      and results of operations of the Funds.

Dated: August 21, 2003              /s/ Bertram L. Scott
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Bertram L. Scott
                                    Executive Vice President (Principal
                                    Executive Officer)
                                    TIAA-CREF Life Funds



Dated: August 21, 2003              /s/ Richard L. Gibbs
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Richard L. Gibbs
                                    Executive Vice President
                                    (Principal Financial Officer),
                                    TIAA-CREF Life Funds