Kees Brusse was a self-taught actor, and he was remarkable for his natural acting style at a time when more theatrical performances were the norm in The Netherlands.
From 1952 to 1954 he was artistic leader of the Rotterdamse Comedie, where he worked with his later wife Mieke Verstraete.
He was involved with several theater companies, including Toneelgroep Theater, De Haagse Comedie, Het Amsterdams Toneel and the Nederlandse Comedie.