“Baywatch” Star Jeremy Jackson Gets Candid About Addiction, Jail in New Doc: 'Only as Sick as Our Secrets' (Exclusive)

The former child star, who played David Hasselhoff's son Hobie on the popular '90s TV series, opens up about his highs and lows in 'After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun'

For Jeremy Jackson, life hasn't proved to be much like the fun in the sun depicted on Baywatch in the '90s.

The former child actor, who was cast on the series at just 8 years old, began facing addiction as a teenager, and he tells PEOPLE now that the experience "tangled me all up in knots."

"But how satisfying is it when you finally get that tangle out," he says. "Thus I am untangled, and that was the past, so today I am satisfied."

He did look back on his days in the show with his appearance in the docuseries After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun, which explores Jackson's struggle with crystal meth. In the docuseries, Jackson recalls an interaction he had with co-star David Hasselhoff one day on set when Hasselhoff confronted him.

"I remember David saying 'Are you smoking pot or something?' And I was [thinking] like, 'Jesus, they think I'm smoking pot?' I could never tell them the truth. What would they think?" Jackson recalls. "When you haven't slept for five days and you've been smoking crystal meth, having somebody look you in the eyes and say 'Dude, are you okay?' is like the worst thing that can happen."

Related: Baywatch Stars Get Vulnerable About How Show 'Empowered' but Also 'Hurt' in After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun (Exclusive)

Throughout Jackson's challenges, he and Hasselhoff remained close. In fact, their connection was apparent from the moment Jackson auditioned for the part of his son, Hobie.

“I fought for him,” Hasselhoff says in the series of casting Jackson, who at the time was up against a young Leonardo DiCaprio for the role.

"Ole DH and I speak lots and hang here and there still," Jackson tells PEOPLE of his "homie" Hasselhoff.

Related: Nicole Eggert Says Producing Baywatch Docuseries Has Given Her 'Purpose' amid Breast Cancer Diagnosis (Exclusive)

Jackson also maintains a close relationship with other Baywatch alums, as well, including David Chokachi, Alexandra Paul, Erika Eleniak and especially Nicole Eggert, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

"I have watched her grow and tackle so much," Jackson says. "That’s a champion and success story for anyone. She's a special kind of human."

Eggert has long been supportive of Jackson, too: she went to visit him in prison in 2017 while he served time for his involvement in an alleged stabbing.

"I was spiraling down for sure,” Jackson says in the docuseries. “My life slipped through my hands like sand.”

As for why he agreed to be involved in a docuseries that revisited some potentially challenging subjects for him, Jackson credits the people involved.

"My life is an open book anyway. I always say we are only as sick as our secrets," he tells PEOPLE.  "But my 'why' was for others. [Producers] Matt Felker and Nicole Eggert had a vision and a passion... There was no question about being involved for me."

But, “Would I do it all again?" Jackson asks himself about his life choices in the series. "Probably not."

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Lately, the star has been focused on his business, Jeremy Jackson Fitness, which he describes as "a website helping people who are struggling with body dysmorphia, anxiety, depression, to help them get inspired and have a plan to attack," he tells PEOPLE at the premiere of the docuseries on June 26.

"I've gotten in great shape myself, but I realized when that spiritual aspect wasn't intact, I tend to topple over. So there's multiple legs to building this structure of health, happiness and mindset. So I'm including more of the mindset in my approach to helping people with diet and fitness and meditations."

He says he's in "remission" today. "[When people ask] 'am I in a good place,' they mean am I still sober. It's a huge mistake people make with 'good and bad,' when drug addiction and alcoholism is a case of mental sickness, not about morality fortitude or personal character and virtue," he says.

Adding, "I am in remission from the from the chronic, fatal and progressive disease I was once plagued with? Yes, thank God. Yes, I am."

After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun is streaming now on Hulu.

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