Dina Cocea
Encyclopedia
Dina Cocea (ˈdina ˈkot͡ʃe̯a; 27 November 1912 – 28 October 2008) was a Romania
n stage actress and occasional movie star with a career that spanned 50 years. Among other activities, Cocea was an actor in residence at Bucharest's National Theatre for 17 years, a university professor, writer and columnist, playwright, political activist and representative to UNESCO
.
to father N. D. Cocea
, a well known writer and journalist, and mother Florica Mille, who was the daughter of another prominent journalist and writer, the socialist
politico Constantin Mille
, in whose house Cocea resided as a child. At 14 years of age, Cocea went to Paris, where she attended a Roman Catholic boarding school for a time. She later moved in with her aunt, Alice Cocéa
, a film actress and star of the Parisian theatre, who introduced and encouraged Cocea to take up the acting profession.
After completing an education in the dramatic arts in Paris, Cocea returned to Romania where she debuted as an actress in 1934. In 1935, Cocea landed a role at Bucharest's Comedia ("Comedy"), a basement theater, (today the site of the Odeon) alongside actor G. Timică in the play Adevăratul Iacob ("The Real Jacob"). She initially appeared using the stage name, "Dina Cerna" but she quickly dropped the pseudonym.
Cocea's first big success came when she played in Melchior Lengyel
's 1909 play Taifunul ("Typhoon"). Cocea first screen appearance was in 1939's O noapte de pomină (An Unforgettable Night). In 1941 Cocea founded an acting troupe, Teatrul Nostru ("Our Theater") and took as partners, Fory Etterle, Eugenia Zaharia and Peter Niro. The partnership lasted for 8 years but was dissolved by circumstance when the Comedia theater was nationalized
in 1948-1949. Cocea quickly became an actress in residence at the Bucharest National Theater
where she remained for 17 years until retiring in 1966. Spanning part of this period, from 1952 - 1962 Cocea was dean of the University of Bucharest
's Faculty of Theater.
Following her retirement from the National Theater, Cocea appeared in many roles in other Bucharest theaters, from 1979 - 1989 acted as president of Asociaţia oamenilor din instituţiile teatrale şi muzicale (ATM) (Association of Theatre Artists and Musicians), taught acting at university, and was a sometime political activist. She also appeared in a dozen films, up through the 1992 detective film Atac în bibliotecă (Attack in the Library), and represented Romania for UNESCO
and at international congresses organized by the UN
.
Despite acting in over 100 stage productions, a dozen films, being a regular television and radio guest, and being well known as a writer in Romania with a career spanning more than 50 years, Cocea was little known outside of Romania. However, in her home country she was a household name, having been dubbed Mare Doamnă a Teatrului ("Queen of the Theater"). In 2001, Cocea was presented with an honorary doctorate
from the Universitatea de Artă Teatrală şi Cinematografică (University of Theater and Cinematography), In 2002, she was awarded the Ordinul Naţional (Romanian National Order) or "Steaua României" (Order of the Star of Romania
), Romania's highest civil order awarded only by Romania's President, and granted thereby the rank of knight.
Cocea died on 28 October 2008 of a heart attack about a month shy of her 96th birthday, having entered Floreasca hospital just days before suffering from a pulmonary infection. Following her death, former Romanian President, Ion Iliescu
and Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu, among other dignitaries, expressed sorrow. On 30 October 2008, Cocea's body was laid in repose
in the foyer of Bucharest's National Theatre where last respects were paid by dignitaries, actors such as Gheorghe Dinică
, Marin Moraru and Ion Caramitru
, many of her former students, friends, and relatives, as well as students of the National University of Theater and Cinematography known as "IL Caragiale." On 31 October 2008 Cocea was interred at Bellu
cemetery where she was given military honors
at the funeral. She was survived by her husband, Ion Toboşaru.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n stage actress and occasional movie star with a career that spanned 50 years. Among other activities, Cocea was an actor in residence at Bucharest's National Theatre for 17 years, a university professor, writer and columnist, playwright, political activist and representative to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Biography
Cocea was born on 27 November 1912 in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
to father N. D. Cocea
N. D. Cocea
N. D. Cocea was a Romanian journalist, novelist, critic and left-wing political activist, known as a major but controversial figure in the field of political satire...
, a well known writer and journalist, and mother Florica Mille, who was the daughter of another prominent journalist and writer, the socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
politico Constantin Mille
Constantin Mille
Constantin Mille was a Romanian journalist, novelist, poet, lawyer, and socialist militant, as well as a prominent human rights activist...
, in whose house Cocea resided as a child. At 14 years of age, Cocea went to Paris, where she attended a Roman Catholic boarding school for a time. She later moved in with her aunt, Alice Cocéa
Alice Cocéa
Alice Sophie Cocéa or Cocea was a Romanian-born French actress and singer. She was the sister of socialist journalist and novelist N. D. Cocea, and the aunt of actresses Dina and Tantzi Cocea.-Biography:...
, a film actress and star of the Parisian theatre, who introduced and encouraged Cocea to take up the acting profession.
After completing an education in the dramatic arts in Paris, Cocea returned to Romania where she debuted as an actress in 1934. In 1935, Cocea landed a role at Bucharest's Comedia ("Comedy"), a basement theater, (today the site of the Odeon) alongside actor G. Timică in the play Adevăratul Iacob ("The Real Jacob"). She initially appeared using the stage name, "Dina Cerna" but she quickly dropped the pseudonym.
Cocea's first big success came when she played in Melchior Lengyel
Melchior Lengyel
Melchior Lengyel was a Hungarian writer, dramatist, and film screenwriter.-Biography:Lengyel was born Lebovics Menyhért in Balmazújváros, Hungary. He started his career as a journalist...
's 1909 play Taifunul ("Typhoon"). Cocea first screen appearance was in 1939's O noapte de pomină (An Unforgettable Night). In 1941 Cocea founded an acting troupe, Teatrul Nostru ("Our Theater") and took as partners, Fory Etterle, Eugenia Zaharia and Peter Niro. The partnership lasted for 8 years but was dissolved by circumstance when the Comedia theater was nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
in 1948-1949. Cocea quickly became an actress in residence at the Bucharest National Theater
National Theatre Bucharest
The National Theatre Bucharest is one of the national theatres of Romania, located in the capital city of Bucharest.-Founding:It was founded as the Teatrul cel Mare din Bucureşti in 1852, its first director being Costache Caragiale...
where she remained for 17 years until retiring in 1966. Spanning part of this period, from 1952 - 1962 Cocea was dean of the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
's Faculty of Theater.
Following her retirement from the National Theater, Cocea appeared in many roles in other Bucharest theaters, from 1979 - 1989 acted as president of Asociaţia oamenilor din instituţiile teatrale şi muzicale (ATM) (Association of Theatre Artists and Musicians), taught acting at university, and was a sometime political activist. She also appeared in a dozen films, up through the 1992 detective film Atac în bibliotecă (Attack in the Library), and represented Romania for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and at international congresses organized by the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
Despite acting in over 100 stage productions, a dozen films, being a regular television and radio guest, and being well known as a writer in Romania with a career spanning more than 50 years, Cocea was little known outside of Romania. However, in her home country she was a household name, having been dubbed Mare Doamnă a Teatrului ("Queen of the Theater"). In 2001, Cocea was presented with an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the Universitatea de Artă Teatrală şi Cinematografică (University of Theater and Cinematography), In 2002, she was awarded the Ordinul Naţional (Romanian National Order) or "Steaua României" (Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
), Romania's highest civil order awarded only by Romania's President, and granted thereby the rank of knight.
Cocea died on 28 October 2008 of a heart attack about a month shy of her 96th birthday, having entered Floreasca hospital just days before suffering from a pulmonary infection. Following her death, former Romanian President, Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu
Ion Iliescu served as President of Romania from 1990 until 1996, and from 2000 until 2004. From 1996 to 2000 and from 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Iliescu was a Senator for the Social Democratic Party , whose honorary president he remains....
and Culture Minister Adrian Iorgulescu, among other dignitaries, expressed sorrow. On 30 October 2008, Cocea's body was laid in repose
Lying in repose
Lying in repose is a term used to describe when a deceased person, often of some stature, is available for public viewing. "Lying in repose" is different from the formal honor of "lying in state", which is generally held at the principal government building of the country and often accompanied by...
in the foyer of Bucharest's National Theatre where last respects were paid by dignitaries, actors such as Gheorghe Dinică
Gheorghe Dinica
Gheorghe Dinică was a Romanian actor.Dinică showed an early interest in acting, being part of different amateur theater troupes since he was 17. In 1957, he entered The National Institute of Theatre and Cinematography Art in Bucharest. He graduated in 1961, already drawing public attention with...
, Marin Moraru and Ion Caramitru
Ion Caramitru
Ion Caramitru is a Romanian stage and film actor, stage director, as well as a political figure. He was Minister of Culture between 1996 and 2000, in the Romanian Democratic Convention cabinets of Victor Ciorbea, Gavril Dejeu, Radu Vasile, Alexandru Athanasiu, and Mugur Isărescu.-Early life and...
, many of her former students, friends, and relatives, as well as students of the National University of Theater and Cinematography known as "IL Caragiale." On 31 October 2008 Cocea was interred at Bellu
Bellu
Bellu is the most famous cemetery in Bucharest, Romania.It is located on a plot of land donated to the local administration by Baron Barbu Bellu...
cemetery where she was given military honors
Military funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
at the funeral. She was survived by her husband, Ion Toboşaru.
Filmography
- O noapte de pomină (1939)
- Cartierul Veseliei (1964)
- Neamul Şoimăreştilor (1964)
- Ciprian Porumbescu (1972)
- Ştefan cel Mare - Vaslui 1475 (1974)
- Muşchetarul român (1975)
- Aurel Vlaicu (1977)
- Iancu Jianu haiducul (1980)
- Cântec pentru fiul meu (1980)
- Atac în bibliotecă (1992)