Harrison died at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home following a battle with cancer, longtime friend Gavin De Becker told The Associated Press late Thursday.
"He died with one thought in mind - love one another," De Becker said. De Becker said Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani, 24, were with him when he died.
With Harrison's death, there remain two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in 1980.
In 1998, when Harrison disclosed that he had been treated for throat cancer, Harrison said: "It reminds you that anything can happen." The following year, he survived an attack by an intruder who stabbed him several times. In July 2001, he released a statement asking fans not to worry about reports that he was still battling cancer.
The Beatles were four distinct personalities joined as a singular force in the rebellious 1960s, influencing everything from hair styles to music. Whether dropping acid, proclaiming 'All You Need is Love' or sending up the squares in the film 'A Hard Day's Night' the Beatles inspired millions.