User Reviews

I enjoyed this movie, mostly because of the relationship depicted between the character of the mother (Elizabeth Welsh)and her two sons (Christopher and Ted). Her relationship with her sons is inspiring to me, myself a mother of two young sons. The mother faces her husband's suicide, later learning it was faked by him to escape his financial woes, and the solo raising of her two sons with grace and strength. She confidently seeks employment, even after initial rejection, telling her employer why she should be hired. (Later, she becomes the director of the agency.) When she learns via the Social Security Administration (not the insurance company, as described in the plot summary) that her dead husband is still living, she faces this too, with grace and strength. She does not fall apart with whimpering and whining, or in an emotional heap of pleading to him, but faces her former husband with confidence, pointedness and firmness. I also enjoyed her younger son's speech at his father's trial when he states his mother is the best mother - and father - a son could ever have. Even better is the older son's speech to his father during a jail house visit, telling him what a poor father he was by leaving them the way he did.

This is a satisfying TV movie; perfect for a Sunday afternoon snuggled on the couch with a cup of tea. Thank you, Mrs. Welsh, for your example of motherly strength and determination. You give me courage and strength as a mother, even if you are a dramatized version of your real self. And, Margaret Colin plays the mother beautifully, as do the actors who play her sons. The actor who plays the husband and father also does a good job of portraying a selfish, narcissistic man who cowardly abandons his family to save his own self. He is very easy to dislike.

Elizabeth "Peachy" Welsh(Margaret Colin)is living happily with her soul mate Pat(Jay O. Sanders)and their two sons. Mr. Welsh seems the perfect husband and father and well respected in the community, until he is convicted of embezzling funds from his cushy job at the university, where he worked as a fund raiser. Not being able to face the pressures of starting over, Pat leaves a suicide note and disappears. "Peachy" must battle the grief and raise her two sons alone. Ten years later, the Social Security Administration demands a repayment in survivor benefits paid to her sons, because there is proof Pat Welsh is not dead. By way of the internet "Peachy" tracks down he now ex-husband, who is living under the name of Tim Kingsbury, a respected humanitarian living a life of luxury. Elizabeth, with poise and dignity in tack, will get even with the low-life cad she once loved. Alan Metzger directs this story based on true events. Colin is outstanding. Others in the cast: Aaron Ashmore, Will Estes, Erik Knudsen, Derek Boyles, Maria Ricossa and David Gardner.

I think the acting was good, but perhaps not realistic at times. And then maybe it's just the way I think I would react to the situation. I can see me being not only shocked, but super angry. It was a planned deceit. When finding out the initial death and then later that he is still alive somewhere, the actors did not display the intense emotion I expected. The reaction was pretty much flat affect for all three actors during both scenes. Other than those who scenes, the rest of this drama is extremely well done. I don't know which parts are accurate or are dramatized, but the movie is still good to watch.

So many reviews giving accolades to Margaret Colin but given that she has acting experience, unlike most the main characters here, I expected more. The mother was emotionless, unbelievable, detached... And she never aged, which is a super simple accomplishment for the most rookie makeup artist. Granted, the script was clearly made-for-tv with a small budget and throw-away directors and writers. But I was hoping for more. I also found the story a bit far-fetched -- if this is based on fact, how could a mother teach her sons that suicide is some kind of pedestal and not be more honest about what a coward's way out that is. Why didn't she take help from the grandparents or other family instead of moving into a dump and abandoning the furry family member? What kind of wife doesn't insist on seeing some evidence before telling the sons their father is dead? And this guy has moved practically next door after pretending to commit suicide across the country! First, we're told she's too naïve to know her husband was in financial straights -- twice --and then we're supposed to believe she is so independent she puts the boys in a ghetto, dumps the family dog, and disappears 10 hours a day for a job knowing her eldest son has psychological issues. The best acting was when the dad actually tried to say how much he loved and missed them all that time -- that's what sociopaths do well: Act. Sad story; poorly dramatized. Cera and Ashmore also did a great job as the abandoned sons. But this is a made for tv B-rated tedious film. It spends so much time introducing us to the family that it's almost half over by the time the coward takes a powder. Then zooms to 10 years later to when she finds out from the social security office that he's still alive. Still there is zero emotion from her. I think most women would have made a statement in the court and tried to get him a longer sentence that he would actually have to serve, such as daring to bring his barely legal girlfriend into court to rub in her face. Instead she forces the boys to make the case for her. A good attorney could have got him for other things, including Fraud and Pain & Suffering.

Patrick Hennessy Welsh was a good family man. He was adored by his wife, Elizabeth "Peachy" Welsh. And his two young sons, Ted and Chris, idolized their dad. It was therefore crushing to Peachy, Ted, and Chris when Pat left a suicide note, then headed to San Francisco, where the authorities concluded that he jumped into the bay.

"My Husband's Double Life" (a.k.a., "The Familiar Stranger") explores the secret life of Pat Welsh and how he abandoned his family, committed embezzlement and forgery, faked his death, and started a new life as Timothy Michael Kingsbury in Kennebunkport, Maine. There was no indication that Pat would ever have taken the initiative to reconnect with his old family, as he started a relationship with a young woman and has been named "Man of the Year" in Kennebunkport. Instead, it was through the relentless efforts of Peachy that Pat's scam was exposed.

Some of the best scenes are when the two sons of Pat, who have grown into young men, with the passing of time in the film, speak out against the abandonment. Ted, who has the most memories of his dad, tells his mom, "Nail him!" when Peachy is deliberating on how she could possibly pay back $56,000 to the government for Pat's crimes. Young Chris gives a moving testament in court as to why his mom should be "Woman of the Year" and why Pat should spend years in an orange jumpsuit.

Indeed, the film belongs to Peachy for her resilience and undying attempts to shield her children from the emotional pain of abandonment. Peachy talks her way into a trial job with the chamber of commerce in Lancaster, eventually becoming president. She raises two fine young men, Ted a manager of a restaurant and Chris a college graduate. Facing ruin, she kept her head high and forged a new life for her and the boys.

The film was based on a true story in which the real Patrick Welsh eventually served time for only eight months of his four-year prison sentence. But this film is not really about a man described by the trial judge as "cowardly." Instead, it is all about Peachy.

10 stars easy. Imagine your assuming mom or dad is dead,then VOILA! Very well,living pretty great,and yet forget all about you.sad story. The older TED.so cute.He now play in a hit show for years on CBS,very talented imo. The younger ted,coincidentally look like the older ted,so great casting there. . So sad this movie is. Peachy is such a trooper to carry on as she did for her children. Sad movie though. But told by the LMN as always very authentic/so real,and i do research on all of the movies i LOVE on Lifetime,this was a true story.Even seen LOSER patrick welch on I.D.Discovery,true crime special.What a big jerk.I think he did at"one time"love his boys,or at least i felt this.But overall? Wrong is just WRONG. Your own darling mother is dying,and he conceded to the fact he did not even know this?Just nefarious(this part)because that is your mother! SO wrong he was. . The Familiar Stranger is so good. Great acting involving the very lovely tall,talented brunette Margaret Colin,the sons,older and younger were REALLY good actors in it.and i love the movie.Can watch it each time on LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK-LMN,or the other lifetime.10 stars easy. Glad most online review sites,feel as i do,because it is very good.no complaints by this fan of the acting in this movie.Sad parts,naturally but overall good true-to-life story,drama=ten stars IMO. adiós

You may remember Ms. Colin from the movie Independence Day. Her movie husband was also on an episode of Law and Order. I happened to see this movie as I was going through the channels to see what was on and I am glad I did. I thought the acting was very convincing. I was a bit confused as the why the state of Maine let him get away with some of the things he did and it was not clear how he would have to replay the social security department I had no idea this was a true story until the end and from another person here I found out it was based on a true story and like the other person I would like to know just how much was real and how much was adapted for TV.

About: A father fakes his death and abandons his family for a junkie.

Story: Strong

Production: Pasted together well

Highlight: Abandoning the worthless mutt

Main intelligence: 10. To fake one's death for over 10 years takes a lot of brains, and to abandon a wortless mutt.

Unworthiness level: 0

worthless mutt alert: Yes. Only appears for 30 seconds.

Moral code: Father was a coward, a liar and lacked any remorse for his actions towards his off-spring.

Should you watch this? Yes. It's a good, rare movie that explores various true stories of people and or celebs faking their deaths. This movie is not based any particular event. Based on my research, it's based on multiple death faking events.

This straight to tv movie is better than most current blockbuster movies.

Please watch this movie.