The devastating downfall of Jeremy Jackson: How the Baywatch heartthrob, 44, is ravaged by addiction, prison sentences and a shocking reality TV ax

Originally rising to fame as one of the handsome additions to the massive Baywatch series, Jeremy Jackson’s life in the spotlight has been anything but smooth.

The former ’90s heartthrob, 44, has dealt with a long list of personal issues since first appearing on the show as Hobie Buchannon, as he battled drug addiction, a stint behind bars and a dramatic ax through his supposed comeback to British reality TV.

Although Jeremy is now clean and works as a fitness coach and sober mentor for other recovering addicts, he has previously spoken openly about his struggles, including a turbulent end to his marriage to Loni Willison.

Jeremy starred as Hobie, the son of Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) during the beloved series, and the pair are still close to this day.

He previously reflected on his downward spiral during a 2006 episode of E!’s Child Star Confidential, where he discussed his long-term battle with drug addiction.

“I probably made more than $2 to $3 million from Baywatch,” he said at the time.

Former Baywatch heartthrob Jeremy Jackson has endured a series of personal problems, battling drug addiction, a stint behind bars and a dramatic ax following his comeback to British reality TV

The actor first rose to fame as Hobie in the much-loved series, but has since revealed that he first struggled with addictions to cannabis and cocaine during his time on the show.

‘I had the means to destroy myself: I had a lot of money and I had a lot of people around me who weren’t really my friends, but I thought they were, and I got completely sucked into a downward spiral of a lifestyle .’

“I smoked weed every day and did cocaine until it stopped working,” he admitted. ‘For example, I couldn’t get high from it anymore.’

Jeremy even shared that he was confronted by his co-star David about his drug use, saying: ‘He just looked me in the eye and said, ‘Jeremy, what are you smoking, weed?!’ “I don’t have the heart to say to him, ‘That was years ago, now I use coke, ecstasy and speed.'”

Jeremy struggled with the pressures of fame at a young age and later shared that he decided to sensationally quit the show, adding: ‘The real problem was I got a big head and I thought I was better than Baywatch , or that I go away and do my own things.

One day I walked away with my middle finger in the air and said, ‘Fuck you, I’m not coming back to this set.’ And I pulled myself off the show.”

Jeremy’s drug addiction continued to increase and he was arrested at the age of 19, after moving from using cannabis and cocaine to crystal meth.

He said: ‘I left a home with two duffel bags full of everything you need to cook crystal meth.

‘The undercover officers came towards me. I looked at (the costs for) the production of methamphetamine, which has a mandatory period of seven to 35 years. I looked terrible – lots of scabs and sores on my face; really very thin, very pale.’

‘I immediately called my mother. I’ve said so many times, ‘This is the last time, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again, I’m going to change,’ but at that moment you can’t say anything anymore. I went to jail for 90 days.

Jeremy starred as Hobie, the son of Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff) during the beloved series, and the pair are still close

Jeremy’s drug addiction continued to increase and he was arrested at the age of 19, after moving from using cannabis and cocaine to crystal meth.

As Jeremy transitioned from acting stints to various reality TV shows, he began developing a steroid supplement (pictured in 2011)

‘Production costs have fallen. I was charged with possession with intent to sell. I’ve done my time, I’ve done my rehab. I think it was probably the fifth rehab I’ve been through.”

As Jeremy transitioned from acting stints to various reality TV shows, he began developing a steroid supplement.

During an appearance on Celebrity Rehab in 2011 with Dr. Drew said: “It started innocently enough – you know, gym, trainers, acting classes, but with that addict mentality… for a guy like me, it’s just not fast enough. I want results, for example now.’

“I’ve spent at least $200,000 in the last three years just on steroids, pills and injections.”

In 2015, Jeremy tried to relaunch his career with an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, but was kicked off the show after exposing Chloe Goodman’s breasts in the house’s toilet after a drinking session.

The troubled star later told The Sun: ‘It was a terrible drunken mistake – I’m so ashamed. It would be very easy to blame the alcohol, but I’m not a cheap player. It’s my fault, and I have no one to blame but me.

“I didn’t touch her skin or paw her,” and as he reached for Chloe, he said, “Please forgive me.”

Jeremy was later given a police warning for common assault after the incident.

His legal troubles continued in 2017 when he was sentenced to 270 days in LA County Jail and five years’ probation after being accused of stabbing a woman during an argument.

Jeremy was arrested in 2015 after allegedly stabbing a woman near her Los Angeles home in August that year after the pair got into an argument.

According to TMZ, Jeremy lashed out at the stranger’s arm, leg and back as she tried to stop him from stealing her boyfriend’s car.

Jeremy was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats, which could have landed him in prison for up to seven years.

That arrest came after the former child star’s arrest in April 2015 for assault with a deadly weapon.

A man claimed he was stabbed nine times, claiming the troubled actor tried to steal from him.

He said he needed 177 stitches after the incident, as well as three pints of blood.

In 2015, Jeremy tried to relaunch his career with an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, but was kicked off the show after exposing Chloe Goodman’s breasts.

In 2014, he split from his wife Loni Wilson, and she later claimed he tried to strangle her during a fight. He was later sentenced to 270 days in jail and five years’ probation

Jeremy’s ex Loni has since become homeless and has been repeatedly pictured on the streets of Los Angeles (pictured in August 2023)

Jeremy also previously revealed he carried out a gruesome act with his female Baywatch co-stars’ swimsuits in a shocked confession.

He admitted that after a day of filming, he would smell his co-stars’ dirty swimsuits.

Jackson – who stars Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra and Nicole Eggert among others – said: “I usually sneak into the ladies’ trailers after they’re done and grab their dirty bathing suits.

“Let’s just say I smelled every (beep) on Baywatch. And Nicole (Eggert) was definitely the big one. We had a very intimate moment, she and I, that she never knew about.

Producers then told Summer Quinn star Eggert, 52, who is battling stage 2 breast cancer – who replied: ‘I knew Jeremy very well, this doesn’t surprise me at all.’

In 2014, he divorced his wife Loni Wilson – who is currently homeless – after they were married for less than two years.

Loni claims Jeremy tried to strangle her during a physical altercation when they were drunk.