Born in 1929, he graduated the Institute of Theatre and Cinematographic Art in Bucharest in 1953. As a film director and screenwriter, he cultivated the adventure genre especially in period movies set in the XVIII century such as the Hajduks/Haiducii series comprising Hajduks/Haiducii (1966), The Kidnapping of the Virgins/Răpirea fecioarelor (1968), The Revenge of the Hajduks/Răzbunarea haiducilor (1968)), The Hajduks of Şaptecai/Haiducii lui Şaptecai (1970), Mad People's Week/Săptămîna nebunilor (1971) and The Dot of Princess Ralu/Zestrea domniţei Ralu (1972).

These adventure and comic features loosely based on historical facts were followed in the 80’s by the Iancu Jianu series, comprising the features Iancu Jianu, haiducul (1981) and Iancu Jianu, zapciul (1982), less comedic films based on the legend of the famous Romanian outlaw Iancu Jianu.

After a conflict with the authorities Cocea was forbidden from making films and left for France in 1986. He divided his time between Bucharest and Paris after 1990, but he didn't make any more movies. He received several awards from the Romanian Filmmakers Association (ACIN) and a lifetime achievement award from Iaşi Film Festival. He also received an award from the American Film Academy in 2000.