In 1991, Rignanese graduated from the Paolo Grassi School of Dramatic Arts of Milan, where he studied alongside Antonio Albanese.
During the filming, he solidified his strong friendship with Albanese, who later cast him in his directorial debut Uomo d'acqua dolce.
[7] Rignanese most notably appeared in Marpiccolo by Alessandro Di Robilant in 2009, La pecora nera by Ascanio Celestini, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2010, and Il paese delle spose infelici by Pippo Mezzapesa in 2011.
[9] He has acted in many successful television series, including Questo nostro amore, where he played Salvatore Strano, and The Mafia Kills Only in Summer, in which he portrayed Boris Giuliano, the head of the Palermo Mobile Squad.
[10][11] In 2018, Rignanese starred in the FX television series Trust, in the role of crime lord Don Salvatore.