The Double Life of Henry Phyfe

Henry Phyfe (Buttons) was a mild-mannered accountant, until circumstances forced the American Counter Intelligence Service (CIS) to recruit him to impersonate a foreign agent named U-31, who had been killed in an automobile accident. The agent looked just like Phyfe, but the two men's personalities were drastically different. That severe contrast laid the groundwork for many of the episodes.

Also seen regularly were Phyfe's girlfriend, Judy Kimball; Judy's mother (and Henry's prospective mother-in-law) Florence; Mr. Hamble, Henry's boss at the accounting firm; and Gerald Hannahan, the regional director of CIS and Henry's agency boss. Hannahan was the lone series regular to know Henry's secret (though other CIS employees seen in various episodes also knew).

Judy, Florence and Mr. Hamble were all dropped from the show after the ninth episode in production order. However, as the episodes were aired out of sequence, these three characters are seen through episode 8 as aired, then disappear for a while. All three return in episode 14 for one final appearance.

A recurring plot line is that Hannahan has to persuade Phyfe -- usually through trickery -- to undertake each mission, as Phyfe adamantly wants nothing to do with the agency, or with Hannahan, or with being a spy. As well, U-31 had a wide range of specialized skills (golf, samurai sword fighting, etc) which Phyfe often attempts to learn (generally unsuccessfully) just before each mission.

• Red Buttons as Henry Phyfe
• Fred Clark as Gerald B. Hannahan
• Zeme North as Judy Kimball
• Marge Redmond as Mrs. Florence Kimball
• Parley Baer as Mr. Hamble