Who is Cecil Lockhart from The Deep End of the Ocean and what is their importance?

Cecil Lockhard is the one person in Beth Kerry Cappadora's high school class who has attained a similar level of fame and recognition. Beth has become a well known photographer, and Cecil has become a familiar face in television and theater. It is Cecil who takes Ben from the hotel lobby. Candy and Beth later learn that before kidnapping Ben, Cecil had lost a one week old baby.