In 1902, he became a student at the
Royal Dramatic Theatre. After studying abroad, he was employed at the Dramaten in 1905. He was engaged by
Albert Ranft as an actor at the Svenska teatern in
Stockholm in 1907 where he remained until 1925. With his spouse
Pauline Brunius and colleague,
Gösta Ekman (senior), he was the managing director of the theatre
Oscarsteatern from 1926 to 1932. From 1935 to 1937 he was employed by the Göteborgs Stadsteater in
Gothenburg.{{cite web|url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/mobil/Artikel/17063|title = John W. Brunius |website= Svenskt biografiskt lexikon He was married from 1909 to 1935 to actress
Pauline Brunius. He was the father of actress
Anne-Marie Brunius and actor and theatre director
Palle Brunius.{{cite web|url=http://www.svenskfilmdatabas.se/sv/item/?type=PERSON&itemid=58100|title = Pauline Brunius ==Selected filmography==