1





                                  Exhibit C(6)

                                 April 27, 2001


The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
720 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished in connection with Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-6, Registration No. 2-89972, of
Northwestern Mutual Variable Life Account (File No. 2-89972). The prospectus
included in Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 ("Prospectus") describes three
variable life insurance policies which are issued in connection with the Account
("Policies"): Whole Life, Extra Ordinary Life Policies and Single Premium Life
Policies. The Policy forms were prepared under my direction, and I am familiar
with the Registration Statement and Amendments and Exhibits thereto. In my
opinion:

l.       The illustrations of death benefits included on pages 11, 12 and 13 of
         the Prospectus, based on the assumptions stated in the illustrations,
         are consistent with the provisions of the Policies.

2.       The illustration of the effect of a Policy loan on the death benefit
         and cash value included on page 15, based on the assumptions stated in
         the illustration, is consistent with the provisions of the Policies.

3.       The illustration of reduced paid-up insurance and extended
         term insurance included on page 16 of the Prospectus, based on the
         assumptions stated in the illustration, is consistent with the
         provisions of the Policies.

4.       The illustrations of cash values and death benefits included in Exhibit
         A(5)(I) of the Registration Statement, as amended, including the
         amounts shown for the Base Policy and as Paid-Up Additions, based on
         the assumptions stated in the illustrations, are consistent with the
         provisions of the Policies and current dividend scale and experience.
         The rate structure of the Policies has not been designed so as to make
         the relationship between premiums and benefits, as shown in the
         illustrations, appear more favorable to a prospective purchaser of a
         Policy for male age 35, than to prospective purchasers of Policies for
         a male at other ages or for a female.

I hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to my name under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus.

Sincerely,

WILLIAM C. KOENIG


William C. Koenig, F.S.A.
Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary